February Adviser


0210 Adviser Image What would you do if your high school planned to perform a controversial play?

The drama department at a high school in a suburban school district was planning to put on a controversial play. The superintendent already had approved the principal's decision. A group of parents came to next board meeting and filled up the public comment time with arguments and protests about the play and why it shouldn't be performed by their high school students. Board members weren't sure what to do. They wanted to support their superintendent's decision, but several of them were shocked that the high school drama department would even consider such a mature play. None of the board members wanted to appear to be unresponsive to community and constituent concerns. What should they do?

   Override the superintendent and stop the play.
   Trust your superintendent and let the show go on.
   Set a policy that the board must approve all high school plays.

Advice for the asking: Would you like to comment in more detail about this topic or are you plagued with your own prickly problem of school board service or school governance? Send a message to ASBJ’s cadre of consultants, known collectively as the Adviser. We’ll change the names of persons and places. Then, we’ll describe the problem and its suggested solution for our readers.

The Adviser does not represent official policy of the National School Boards Association; nor should it be construed as legal advice.