Community Education

School district emphasizes that planned walkout isn’t ‘school-sponsored’

In a message to families and staff, Peninsula School District executives this week acknowledged walkouts planned by secondary school students for Friday, Feb. 13.

The district wrote to families that the walkouts are “student-initiated and student-led, and … not a school-sponsored activity.” While the district supports “students’ First Amendment rights to freedom of speech, including peaceful protesting,” it is not “endorsing this walkout,” according to the message attributed to PSD Chief of Schools Michael Farmer.

Students will protest aggressive federal immigration enforcement tactics. The walkout comes after federal agents shot and killed two American citizens in the Minneapolis area in January.

Peninsula High students plan to walk from the school to the Purdy Spit starting at 10:30 a.m. Friday. Gig Harbor students plan to depart the school, headed downtown, starting at noon. Social media reports indicate that some middle school students also plan walkouts.

The district’s note said that students must return to class after the walkout, or staff will mark them as absent. Parents or guardians may contact the school to excuse the absence.

The message also said that students who leave campus and miss class “will not be permitted to ride the bus home” after school. “Students who leave school grounds are considered to have left school supervision for the day, and families will need to arrange their own transportation.”

“We support our students’ First Amendment rights to freedom of speech, including peaceful protesting,” the message said. “However, the district will continue to monitor the situation and step in as needed to ensure a safe, supportive learning environment for students and staff.”