TUSD Outlines Plan for Upcoming National School Walkout
Message to Students from National School Walkout Organizers
Another national school walkout is planned for this Friday. The walkout coincides with the anniversary of the Columbine shooting. The organizers of the event are asking students across the nation to walkout of classrooms in support of reform to existing gun control laws.
TUSD supported a similar walkout that occurred on March 14, 2018. On that day, Congressman Ted Lieu spoke at South High while students at other schools participated in a variety of organized protest events. During that walkout students could remain in their classrooms or join the planned walkout events without consequence.
This time organizers are calling for an all day walkout beginning at 10:00 am versus only a 17 minute demonstration. For the upcoming walkout, it appears TUSD plans to allow each school site to handle the event as they deem necessary. Students leaving class, however, will be marked absent unless they are attending an event sponsored by the local school site.
TUSD Superintendent Dr. George Mannon referred an inquiry on the subject to Kati Krumpe, the Chief Academic Officer. She responded as follows:
Q. Does TUSD plan to hold classes that day as usual?
Q. Will any accommodations be made for those that choose to participate in the walkout or will there be any organized events like there was for the prior walkout a few weeks ago?
A. Our site administrators will ensure that any student(s) wishing to participate in a walk-out be given a safe place to protest and speak. While there may be organized events at our local campuses (they will let us know by Thursday but I didn’t want to delay getting back to you), this is a site by site decision based on student interest. We do not advocate for students leaving the campus where we cannot safely supervise them. Our schools had peaceful protests on March 14th and we anticipate the same for Friday.
Q. How will local sites determine student interest for April 20th? How was student interest determined on March 14th?
A. Site teachers and administrators worked with their student groups (student council, clubs, interested students) to determine the activities and events that occurred on March 14th and are doing the same regarding April 20th … We have found our students to be quite cooperative when events are co-planned with site help. Students have appreciated the opportunity to have a voice with teachers and administrators supporting their first amendment right.
Q. Will kids be marked as either absent or truant or be penalized in any other fashion if they leave class and refuse to attend for the remainder of the day?
A. By law, we have to mark students absent if they are not in class. If they left school without permission, the absence would be unexcused. This would reference students that did not participate in whatever activities that the site provided. Our intent is not to create a discipline issue with our students but to have good dialogue with them.