In August, the Walpole School Committee voted to raise two canvas banners to block the confederate flag on neighboring property. The banners are no longer in front of the flag  because of potential damages from winter weather.

  “Prior to us taking them down, they were tampered with again, and at that point we decided to initiate taking them down for the winter,” said Principal Imbusch.   

  On Dec. 28, a student informed Athletic Director Ron Dowd that the ropes holding the banners were damaged, similar to the rope cutting that occurred Sept. 26. No vandal has been identified, and the damages were easily fixed both times because no harm was done to the actual canvas.

Principal Stephen Imbusch had previously suggested to remove the banners for the winter season.

School Committee Chairperson Nancy Gallivan said, “I agreed [with Imbusch] that it was a good idea and suggested that between the Dec. break and March 1 will hopefully cover most of the snow and ice storms and therefore make the banners last longer.”

The removal of outdoor structures on school property during winter months is not unusual; Dowd also brings other pieces of  school equipment like tennis nets, lacrosse nets and speakers into storage each winter.

  The School Committee provided the high school with four banners in total, along with money for replacements, as two banners typically cover the flag during the non-winter months.