Confederate flags displayed last week on the backs of vehicles belonging to students at Ellsworth High School have sparked debate among students, faculty and other community members.

The flags were flown from the backs of at least three vehicles at the school last week.

Superintendent Dan Higgins told the Ellsworth American no flags were spotted outside the school on Monday or Tuesday of this week.

The decision to stop flying the flags was reportedly made by the students themselves.

Higgins and principal Dan Clifford did meet with the students to discuss the situation.

“Our response is based upon respecting the rights of students to free expression and balancing that right with the safety and welfare of all our students and staff,” Higgins told the Ellsworth American.

Some community members wanted the school to remove the flags or tell the students not to return to the school until they took the flags down.

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