Indianapolis Area School Walkouts: Districts Respond, Prepare

School districts across the Indianapolis area are sharing their response to students who plan to participate in the National School Walkout event on Wednesday, March 14, just one month after students and teachers were killed during a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Teens across the nation are planning to walk out of their schools for 17 minutes beginning at 10 a.m. March 14 to honor the 17 victims of the Feb. 14 mass shooting, in addition to protesting for stricter gun laws.

Zionsville Community Schools issued a letter to students and parents at the end of February as a guide to their expectations and rules regarding the national protest movement. The letter describes the choice to participate as the student's decision, honoring students' rights to a peaceful protest and free speech. However, the letter says teachers are required to remain neutral as classes will continue during that time. Unless a parent calls the school, participating in the walk out will not be considered an excused absence.

According to a letter sent home to parents, Carmel Clay Schools is also supporting their high school students' rights to a peaceful protest.

Officials at Hamilton Southeastern Schools are aware of students' constitutional right to free speech and expression, however they do not support any disruption to the learning environment, according to a letter

the district's Superintendent Allen Bourff and HSE School Board President Matt Burke sent to district parents.

"Students have a constitutional right to free speech and expression, but those rights do not extend to the creation of a substantial disruption to the learning environment, which could occur in the event of a walkout," the letter reads. "The mission of HSE Schools is to teach, guide, and protect our students, so they have a safe place to learn. Consistent with that mission, we will continue to encourage our students to engage in opportunities for civil discourse while we preserve instructional time."

According to the letter, the students are having discussions with teachers and administrators about positive ways to express themselves and bring up their concerns, such as writing letters to elected officials, remaining silent for 17 minutes, or participating in a social media movement called “Walk Up Not Out,” which centers on students reaching out in positive ways to include and support peers and school staff.

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As far as those HSE students who may choose to still walk out, they'll be required to make up any absent work, as officials say that according to the student handbook, students are expected to be in their assigned areas during instructional time. The letter also says parents may follow the regular procedures for calling their student out of school and re-entry into school.

"Administrators always talk to students who violate school policies, and administrators take into account extenuating circumstances before assigning consequences," the letter says. HSE Schools sees disciplinary consequences as an opportunity to teach and not as a punitive experience."

As for others, The Indianapolis Star reports Indianapolis Public Schools superintendent Lewis Ferebee said in a statement the district "respects and supports the right of our students to peacefully advocate for causes that are important to them."

Patch editor Rebecca Bream will continue updating this piece as more information comes in, including updates during or after the anticipated March 14 event.

(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)