Newberg

Stephen Phillips’ lawsuit against the district was filed Tuesday. The Newberg school board placed Phillips on administrative leave that evening, pending an internal investigation.

The Newberg-Dundee Public Schools budget committee Monday night gave preliminary approval of a $99 million spending plan for next school year. Tuesday night, the school board appointed an acting superintendent as Stephen Phillips goes on leave.

A trial gets underway Tuesday in Yamhill County Circuit Court that could result in current and former Newberg School District board members paying out financially for what parents allege were violations of Oregon’s public meeting laws that cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in severance pay and legal fees.

In other news: In Newberg, nearly 77,000 pounds of marijuana, worth $76.5 million was seized by the Yamhill County Sherriff's Office. Those incarcerated at Larch Corrections Center have found temporary housing after the Nakia Creek Fire forced them to evacuate.

Last week, a judge ruled the Newberg School District’s ban on political symbols was unconstitutional. But the ban — and school board actions that followed — changed the district.

A Yamhill County Circuit Court judge has ruled that a policy banning certain symbols from being displayed in Newberg schools is unconstitutional, after a case was filed last year by a Newberg teacher against the school district and four members of the school board.

The board’s actions over the last several months illustrate the divisiveness between the board members and the broader Newberg community. They’ve also led to Yamhill County’s first recall election in 12 years.

The Newberg School District and four of its board members face a lawsuit over a policy banning “political” and “quasi-political” symbols.

Newberg Supt. Joe Morelock appeared on OPB's Think Out Loud.

In a 4-3 vote, the Newberg school board decided to terminate the district's superintendent, Joe Morelock, during a meeting Tuesday night.