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A judge ruled Tuesday that several Jackson Public Schools staff policies are unconstitutional and restrict educators’ freedom of speech.
Special Judge Jess Dickinson ordered permanent injunctions to stop the district from enforcing parts of the policies and carrying out several actions, including telling staff not to contact parents, the public, the media, law enforcement or anyone else about issues in the schools.
“By silencing its teachers, staff, employees and their organizational advocate, JPS deprives its students, their parents and other interested parties such as legislators and taxpayers, of important information necessary to fully understand and take part in their public education system, and meaningfully call for its improvement where and when needed,” Dickinson wrote.
What happened?:Teachers union files complaint against Jackson Public Schools, says district’s media policy unconstitutional
Previously:New proposal could bring students back to Brown Elementary, Rowan Middle in Midtown
The Jackson Federation of Teachers, a union representing teachers, paraprofessionals and other school staff, filed a complaint against the district last year.
The policies mentioned in the Tuesday court filing were about confidential information, staff ethics and use of social networking websites.
Dickinson called the district’s confidential information policy “vague, overbroad and unconstitutional.”
Not only do the district’s policies prevent and chill free speech, but they also adversely affect the ability for the union to attract potential members, he wrote.
The Jackson School Board changed language in its policy that took effect in April, which happened after hearings in Hinds County Circuit Court, according to court documents.
The school district asked for the union’s request for a declaratory judgment to be dismissed, claiming the policy change renders a request for relief no longer relevant.
Dickinson wrote the court still has concerns that JPS may reinstate the challenged policies and continue to tell employees they can’t speak out in certain ways or divulge information that is “not in the best interest of the district.”
This story may be updated
Reporter Mina Corpuz can be reached by email at mcorpuz@gannett.com. You can follow her on Twitter @mlcorpuz.
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