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The following is an e-mail from Joe Quigley, sent on Monday, Aug 20, to Dr William Weitzel, superintendent of Oklahoma City public schools, and numerous others
(Posted 8-21-01)

Dear Dr. Weitzel,

     Over the past year I have been involved in the Key Communicators
Meetings as well as those held at the Clarion to gather input from teachers
concerning the Project KIDS Committee's objective to improve the Oklahoma
City Public School District. Within the Gay and Lesbian Community I have
advocated to individuals and groups for the passage of both the MAPS for KIDS
sales tax and the upcoming bond issue. I have given of my time both when
directly related to the School District and when it was my very own,
unrelated free time because I believe the District needs to improve, and I
support the work of Project KIDS.
    So, with this in mind, perhaps, you can clarify something for me in
return.
Today with only five to seven minutes remaining in my second hour class, as
students were finishing up their first writing assignment of the year whose
purpose is to give me an idea of their writing abilities as of now, the
Principal entered my room sitting in the last seat of the middle row.
    As I announced that time was almost up , and that those who felt
comfortable with their work as it was could hand it in at the end of the
class while those who wanted to polish the final draft could bring it in on
Wednesday, the principal rose and approach a window in the back of the
classroom.
     I watched as he reached for some papers that were on the window sill,
and then turn to exit the room tossing the papers in the waste basket as he
did so.
    After class was dismissed to lunch I retrieved the papers and was a
little concerned as to what this was all about.
   Two pages of the discarded papers contained the names of the Writing
Essentials Textbooks with the bar-codes for each. I kept these on the window
sill as it is just above the shelf where the books are kept, and the books
extend by at least 0ne-half inch above it thereby blocking the papers from
view and keeping them conveniently located for my handing out of the texts
and assigning of a number to each student.
   It was the other group of papers that caused my greatest confusion.
These were the packet of letters I had received from the Public Schools
Foundation, Inc. upon my return to school at Pre-School-Week.
   This packet contained the Progress Report dated July 30, 2001, The
invitation to the final report presentation on August 9, 2001, the Community
Outreach Form Which I had filled in and faxed as per the request on the
bottom, and the fax TX Report.
    I know that the principal has some mysterious problem with my posting of
any positive information about Gay and Lesbian people, going so far as to
remove a quote from Dr. Faison made in November of 1998 at an inservice on
sexual harassment in which he noted that even Gay and Lesbian kids needed to
be protected from harassment in order to prevent liability on the part of the
District, and another statement in keeping with last year's agreement with
the office of Civil Rights, warning against sexual harassment (it was not the
District's official wording, a document we have yet to receive, and that was
the reason for its removal).
    Perhaps you can explain to me his apparent objection to my involvement in
all the meetings and activities surrounding Project KIDS and the Key
Communicator Meetings.
     Was I wrong to be involved?
I feel that as these papers were not controversial, the least the principal
could do was hand them to me later, or just leave them. Tossing them in the
waste basket where some of my students could see this action seems to connote
a negative judgement of some sort.
     I was pleased and proud of my work and sacrifice of time this past year,
and have had confidence in speaking positively to my Community about the need
to be supportive, but it seems to have put me in hot water. The principal
seems to have disapproved.
   To avoid further trouble with the principal, perhaps I should cease my
advocacy of both the MAPS Tax for Kids and the up-coming Bond Issue allowing
those I come in contact with to form their own opinions, regardless how
misguided or erroneous.
It would certainly make my life a lot easier, and prevent me from further
angering the principal in this regard.
    In the past I have sent you many e-mails in the hope that you could help
cover the district legally in the event of any future law suit that could
arise from the mistreatment of our Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgenedered
Students. Although I am aware you have receiced them, I have never heard from
you.
   I will accept it was due to your busy schedule, and not because this
matter is not deemed important.
     But, this time I would like to get a response, as I would like a quiet
year, devoid of fictitious controversy, but would also like to know what was
wrong with my involvement last year, and whether or not it would be injurious
to my employment to continue advocating for Project KIDS, the Bond Issue, and
The MAPS Tax for Kids.

Sincerely
Joseph M. Quigley
NWClassen HS

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