BCLUW board adopts policy on school walkouts

BCLUW students who walk out of school in an act of protest will be charged an unexcused absence and could be subject to further disciplinary measures after the board of education voted unanimously to add the language to the district handbook along with a host of other changes during Wednesday morning’s regular meeting.
           
According to middle school principal Dirk Borgman, however, the impetus for the change was not solely the anti-gun violence demonstrations around the country in the wake of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting: it also intends to address walkouts over personal gripes with teachers, classes or even the lunch menu.
           
“We take free speech very seriously. There are frivolous matters, and then there’s protected political free speech,” he said. “We want to be able to address the difference between the two.”
           
The new rule reads, in full, “From time to time social issues impact students lives and they are motivated to participate in walkouts, or the like.  BCLUW supports the right to free speech and the right to assemble; however, like any form of civil disobedience, walkouts or other protest activities, come with consequences.  BCLUW does not initiate or endorse student led walkouts. Students who chose to participate in a walk out will be marked unexcused, and consequences will be applied according to the existing attendance and discipline policy.” 
 
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