Tullahoma School Board Votes to Limit Classroom Flags After Heated Debate Over LGBTQ+ Symbols

The Tullahoma City School Board voted unanimously Monday night to adopt a new policy restricting classroom flags and wall displays. (Tullahoma City Schools Facebook page)

The Tullahoma City School Board voted unanimously Monday night to adopt a new policy restricting classroom flags and wall displays to items directly related to the curriculum, following a tense meeting dominated by debate over whether Pride flags should be allowed in schools.

The policy, introduced by board member Gigi Robinson, mirrors one recently enacted by neighboring Coffee County Schools. It specifies that teachers may display only the U.S. and Tennessee state flags, and, in certain cases, flags connected to lessons or approved educational programs.

“This particular policy states that things that are involved with the curriculum can be placed and should be looked at on walls,” Robinson said. “It is a policy that deals with flags, banners, posters on our walls, and we’re going to ask that our instructors go through and look at all that.”

The board approved the measure unanimously after nearly an hour of emotional public comment that exposed deep divisions within the community over inclusion and neutrality in the classroom.

Chuck Dean, who spoke in favor of the change, urged the board to keep the rules simple and consistent.

“It should indicate that the U.S. and Tennessee flags are the only flags to be displayed,” Dean said. “There should be no wiggle room or grey areas which allow for a deviation from such a policy.”

Several speakers framed the debate as a question of whether public classrooms should remain “neutral” spaces or reflect broader social movements.

“Our schools exist to educate, not to advocate,” said Daniel Barry. “Every student, regardless of background or belief, should walk into a classroom that’s focused on learning.”

Pride Flag Policy Faces Opposition

But others argued that restricting Pride flags sends a harmful message to LGBTQ+ students and staff.

“I am a transgender woman. I learned this while I was in Tullahoma schools, yet I chose to remain silent because my peers all around me were staunchly transphobic,” said Meadow Spratland, a 2021 graduate of Tullahoma High School. “Transgender people, including children, suffer drug abuse, suicidal thoughts, and suicidal actions at a significantly higher rate than their cisgender peers. These problems would be made worse if this board chooses to ban the Pride flag. To us, a Pride flag is a message that we are welcome to exist here.”

Her remarks were met with a mix of headshakes and loud applause, a moment that underscored how polarizing the issue has become for the small Tennessee community.

Another resident, May T., echoed those concerns, calling the debate “a waste of time” and urging board members to “stop contributing to hateful rhetoric that divides our community.”

Before the vote, board member Brock Compton emphasized that Tullahoma schools remain committed to creating a safe environment for all students.

“These kids need to know that their teachers are there for them, the administrators are there for them, the principals are there for them,” Compton said. “Please let me know if there is any discrimination or anything like that because we will not have that.”

Pride Flag Discussion Statewide

The decision aligns Tullahoma with a growing number of Tennessee districts enacting similar policies in response to disputes over classroom displays and LGBTQ+ visibility, reflecting broader national tensions over education and identity in public schools.

The Tennessee General Assembly considered legislation that would’ve enacted similar restrictions statewide last year.

That bill failed to receive the necessary 17 votes to pass the Senate.