TUSD Adopts School Safety Resolution; Embraces Walkout Campaign

Students Walkout at West High

At its most recent meeting, the School Board adopted a Resolution on Student Safety that was recommended by the California School Boards Association (CSBA). The Resolution was largely symbolic urging the United States Congress and the State of California to take broad based actions such as:

• Investing in wraparound services to prevent bullying, harassment, discrimination and violence in our schools and to provide funding for programs and staff such as counselors, nurses and psychologists, that support students’ mental, physical and emotional health.
• Passing specific legislation that reduces the risk and severity of gun violence on school campuses and repeals the prohibition against data collection and research on gun violence by the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC).
• Implementing common sense measures that prioritize student safety and environments where all students have the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.

The passage of the resolution came on the heels of a nationwide student walkout that occurred March 14th, 2018. That walkout was organized by the Women’s March Youth Empower group. The aims of that group are to:

• Ban Assault Weapons & High Capacity Magazines
• Expand Background Checks to All Gun Sales
• Pass Gun Violence Restraining Order Law
• Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act

The group also opposes:

• Conceal Carry Reciprocity HR 38 / S 446
• Any legislation that would aim to fortify our schools with more guns

In addition to recommending passage of the Resolution, the CSBA also offered guidance on how to address student walkouts. In a memo entitled “Legal Guidance: Student Protests and Walkout” the CSBA advised the following:

“A walkout is considered symbolic speech and protected under the First Amendment, but student speech can be limited if it disrupts the educational process, and generally students leaving class would be considered disruptive to the education environment and schools can regulate this activity. Courts have previously ruled that student absences for a political demonstration walkout should be treated in the same way as any other unexcused absence … Schools should communicate clearly with students any consequences for leaving class, consistent with district policy and different consequences should not be applied based on political viewpoint.”

TUSD took a different tact, however, from the recommended approach by CSBA instead opting to fully embrace the movement by supporting the walkout and assisting with organizing planned events at many of the local high school and middle school’s. Congressman Ted Lieu spoke at South High while students at other schools participated in a variety of organized protest events. Students could remain in their classrooms or join the planned walkout events without consequence.

TUSD’s support of the walkout sparked a flurry of activity on social media as the action was vigorously debated. Below is a sampling of that debate:

Poster at West High

“Its not OK for the schools to use the children as a political tool for ANY agenda. School is for learning.  It’s set up by the schools as a remembrance of the 17 lives lost. But its actually an anti-gun march. Its not up to the schools to decide how anyone feels about guns. Kids should be going to school to learn.” – Scot Crofut

“I am proud of our west High School students for their awareness of larger, social issues appearing on a broader scale. I am also impressed with the administration’s decision to support this 17 minutes of expression, provided the students remain on campus. The first amendment rights of free speech will be recognized as well (with conditions that it be done with respect, isn’t disruptive or dangerous). What a great moment for these children to get a hands on lesson in first amendment constitutional law in real practice” – Linda Gottshall-Sayed

“Where does this stop? If we start letting a walk out for every single cause, pretty soon our schools are going to look like Italian airports- which are shut down every other week for a strike … They want to walk out, fine. But treat it like every other occasion where a student chooses to walk out in the middle of class. That’s the message.” – Nathan Mintz 

“Slippery slope. Schools got involved where they should not have. Causing more problems for themselves.” – Sandra Goetz

West High Walkout Poster

By not treating the walkout like any other school day, the District has put themselves in a position where they will now have to decide what walkouts they will support and where they will draw the line. That could prove to be a major headache for the District as the slippery slope, referenced by Sandra Goetz, will soon be put to the test.

Another school walkout is planned for April 20th, 2018 the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting. This time, however, organizers are calling for an all day walkout beginning at 10:00 am versus only a 17 minute demonstration.

If TUSD supports it as they did the prior walkout, students could miss an entire day of classroom instruction without consequence. If TUSD does not support it, students who do walkout could claim unequal treatment if they are disciplined.

Thus far, TUSD has provided no information on how they plan to handle the upcoming April 20th walkout.