A school board meeting for Farmington Area Public Schools ended in a police presence Monday night following a heated discussion about the requested removal of a sign.

Parents, former students and district employees were in attendance at the school board work session Monday to voice their opinions on the requested removal of an LGBTQIA+ sign at Farmington High School.

The sign depicts the transgender symbol against a rainbow and lists different gender and sexual orientations, including people who are heterosexual under the umbrella term “monosexual.” It was designed by a former student and has been on display in the school for the past five years, said Kelsey Jezierski, a Farmington resident and parent who ran for the school board in 2022.

This sign and its requested removal from Farmington High School was the topic of discussion at a Farmington school board work session meeting on Nov. 13, 2023. The sign, which was designed by a student, depicts the transgender symbol against a rainbow encircled by different gender and sexual orientations. (Courtesy of Kelsey Jezierski)

Attention was drawn to the sign at last month’s school board work session when a parent said, “A sign that I noticed throughout the high school is probably meant to be a symbol of inclusion, but it’s sexual in nature. … All students should feel included in school, but a sign that has obscure sexual preferences isn’t necessary or appropriate.”

Words like agender, non-binary, queer, gynosexual, which refers to the attraction of femininity, and monosexual, which means attraction to members of only one gender, are found on the flag.

Andrea Welvaert, a mother in Farmington and a teacher in South Washington County Schools, said she and her wife were at the meeting Monday night with others to show support and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.

“We all want to feel safe and be included and live our lives,” said Welvaert, who was a finalist for 2022 Minnesota Teacher of the Year. “There are some places we can’t be who we are, so having that sign lets these kids know that they are loved and we care about them, because we don’t know if they have that at home.”

The request to remove the sign was made by Farmington High School administration, said Sally McConnaughey, communications generalist for Farmington Area Public Schools in an email.

McConnaughey provided this statement on Tuesday:

“Our district has been and will continue to work on creating school environments where each child feels safe and has a sense of belonging. The sign in question included a symbol and verbiage around it. While we have many signs that promote inclusivity throughout our school buildings, concerns were brought forward regarding the appropriateness of this sign and whether it was truly inclusive for all.

“In response to this concern, Farmington High School administration is working to gain a better understanding of the signage that exists and the purpose it serves in the building, as well as how we can work together with students and staff to promote a fully inclusive environment. To that end, in the near future focus groups of students will be established to help design consistent signage that serves all learners in our buildings.”

Welvaert said tension grew at Monday’s meeting when her wife was cut off from speaking. It was at that point that shouts erupted from supporters and the members of the school board left the room.

Farmington Police Chief Gary Rutherford said in an email, “We were called simply to help clear out the crowd,” adding that there was no disturbance or any other inappropriate behavior.

Welvaert said she and her wife, who have a 3-year-old, have already begun looking outside the Farmington school district for their child’s schooling. “We don’t feel comfortable sending our child, because she has two moms, to this district that has a history of not including others,” she said.

The next school board meeting is scheduled for Nov. 27, Jezierski said.

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