FREESTONE COUNTY PEACE JUSTICE Beth Gibson Ireland served as spokesman at a Fairfield Independent School District board meeting for more than 40 people who disagreed with a district decision to delay showing an address on education for students by President Barack Obama. Eagles varsity Out of 50 people who signed in at the Fairfield Independent School District board meeting last week, at least 40 of them wanted to talk about a decision to not show an address to students by President Barack Obama.

FISD did not allow a live broadcast of the speech to students, but taped the address, which then had to be previewed by administrators and teachers to determine if its content was appropriate for classes.

Parents also have the opportunity to request that their children not view the address, or "opt out" of participation. The school board adopted a policy earlier this year allowing 30 minutes at meetings for public comments, but only one person is allowed to speak on a topic.

Speaking to the board was Peace Justice Beth Gibson Ireland, precinct one.

"We think that all the students should have that address viewed," Mrs. Ireland says.

She points out that teachers should not be the ones to decide if the presidential address is appropriate, because that puts too much pressure on them, and she notes that some teachers may not choose to show the address because of personal bias.

"The district should make it mandatory that all students view the speech, but allow students to opt out," Mrs. Ireland says.

The group spokesman reports that teachers did not review assemblies for a yoyo demonstration, or of a motivational speech by Fairfield graduate Dave Davlin.

"Since when does an educator have to critique a presidential speech?" Mrs. Ireland asks.

Although the board allowed a lone spokesman on the presidential address, it did answer some questions posed by members of the audience.

After approving a policy for showing movies in school—-they must contain educational content and be rated no worse than PG—- Mrs. Ireland asked if the speech by President Obama would fit the movie criteria, to which superintendent Katie Ryan explained that the presidential speech is not rated and it must be determined if it is age appropriate for all schools.

"I feel if teachers will watch the video, they can put together a great lesson," the superintendent says. "It will be shown when teachers have time to prepare a lesson plan."

In answer to a question by Danny Gibson as to whether students can "opt out" of other school activities, board president Ossie Outlaw declared "absolutely."

Outlaw explained that the board approved a policy to allow parents to "opt out" their children from lessons or activities, and Mrs. Ryan explained that parents have asked that their children not read certain books or sex education lessons.

"The idea is this is left to the teacher," high school social studies teacher Linda Melontree says. "What happens to the little child who could be motivated and their teacher decides not to show it."

If a teacher decides not to show the presidential address, Mrs. Ryan says, a student may view it in another classroom.

"No child will be denied that ability to see that address," the superintendent says.

The board heard from two other speakers during its public comments period, Fairfield businessman John Wilson and Brandy Morris, parent of a kindergarten student.

Mrs. Morris asked that the board consider changing its student handbook to allow male students to wear earrings, pointing out that her son has had to serve lunch detention because of his earrings.

"I don't see where it causes any distraction," she says.

She also notes that girls may wear earrings and that styles have changed and many males wear earrings.

"I request that the rule be changed," the mother says.

Outlaw says that if Mrs. Morris gets on a meeting agenda, the board can consider the matter.

Wilson questioned why new employment contracts had not been offered to school administrators, other than the superintendent.

He believes that it is unfair for school administration personnel, such as principals, to work when their employment status may be unclear.

Outlaw reports that all administrators work under 2-year contracts and that administrators are in the second year of their contracts, but that performance reviews had not yet been conducted because the board wanted to wait until Mrs. Ryan, hired earlier this year, has more time to get acquainted with staff and district operations.

The board approved a $64,449 contract with Stevens Learning Systems to provide equipment, computers and software for new language laboratories in the recently completed high school expansion. Stevens was the lone bidder for the job.

In August trustees voted to start an FISD police department and last week hired two Fairfield Police Department officers, Cpl. Glenda Bass and Billy Barlow to fill the jobs of school resource officers.

Barlow has worked as the SRO for Fairfield schools the past few years while remaining a member of the police department.

The establishment of its own police department gives the officers jurisdiction throughout the school district, not just within Fairfield city limits, and while on trips with school groups.

FISD has been paying costs of Barlow serving as SRO.

Approval by trustees was given for selling 10 lots in Streetman to the City of Streetman for a price of $1 per lot.

A policy on showing movies in classrooms was updated to require that the movies have educational value and be no more than PG rated.

Movies shown at the junior high must be included in lesson plans, parental approval must be given for student viewing and must be pre-approved by the principal. All movies shown at the senior high must be approved by the principal.