MANSFIELD INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 605 East Broad Street Mansfield, TX 76063 mum-mum hmvi hm FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 27,2018 Mansfield ISD Statement Regarding Art Teacher It is the responsibility of Mansfield ISD to protect the learning environment of our students. We also believe it is paramount to partner with our parents in the education of their children. Therefore, parents have the right to control the conversation with their children, especially as it relates to religion, politics, sex/sexual orientation, etc. Further, it is the District's general rule not to comment on employee personnel matters. This protects both the employee and the District. However, with regard to elementary school art teacher Stacy Bailey, misinformation about her personnel matter has created disruption to the Charlotte Anderson Elementary School educational environment. Therefore, the District must provide clarifying information about this situation. The District's concerns regarding Ms. Bailey are not about her request to have our nondiscrimination policies reviewed and/or revised with regard to rights. Mansfield ISD welcomes that discussion through the District's established policy review committee. Rather, the District's concern is that Ms. Bailey insists that it is her right and that it is age appropriate for her to have ongoing discussions with elementary-aged students about her own sexual orientation, the sexual orientation of artists, and their relationships with other gay artists. Mansfield ISD received complaints from parents about Ms. Bailey discussing her sexual orientation with elementary-aged students. After receiving the complaints, administration met with the teacher more than once regarding the concerns. However, Ms. Bailey refused to follow administration's directions regarding age-appropriate conversations with students. Again, this situation is not about Ms. Bailey's inquiries regarding the District's nondiscrimination policies. Rather, it is a matter of parents having certain rights pertaining to the topics to which their children are exposed and the District's right and responsibility to ensure age-appropriate instruction.