This morning, as you may or may not be aware, our "Spirit Rock" was painted in support of a Presidential Candidate.
The student did follow the correct procedures for scheduling the painting of the rock. Our PTO actually controls the rock, which is normally used to promote birthdays, upcoming extra-curricular events, etc. I met with the student this morning and adamantly explained that they had done nothing wrong, and certainly they were not in trouble.
But, the rock is on Lake Norman Charter property and more specifically, is quite visible when visitors enter campus from the Old Statesville Rd. entrance. Therefore, the message could make it appear as if Lake Norman Charter was endorsing a specific political party/candidate.
As a result, we painted over the message to remain consistent with the core values and beliefs of LNC.
We, Lake Norman Charter, remain neutral in all political matters.
I have been able to engage in numerous conversations with students and appreciate the maturity demonstrated in our dialogue. Many of our students wore t-shirts or buttons to promote their political preference, which does not conflict with the school's neutrality.
Moving forward, we will definitely be putting more strenuous requirements for families who sign-up to paint the rock, including submitting the proposed message.
As Principal, I take full-responsibility for the material on our high school campus. In fact, a recent blog-post is very applicable: Leadership: "Under Our Watch".
Thank you for your support,
Craig S. Smith
Principal
Lake Norman Charter HS
csmith@lncharter.org
The opinions shared in this blog belong to Craig Smith and do not represent the school or district in which he works.
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