Glenbrook High School Administrators Change Tune On Walkout

GLENVIEW, IL — Glenbrook District 225 high school administrators have released revised guidelines for handling Wednesday's planned national school walkout. After meeting with student leaders from Glenbrook South and Glenbrook North, it "became clear that the message sent to students and parents last Friday was inconsistent with a communication shared one week earlier with staff," administrators said.

"In an effort to restore consistency," the district provided new guidelines Monday afternoon. They follow an earlier letter that warned any students taking part in a national school walkout Wednesday would be given an "unexcused absence."

Students at more than 2,500 high schools in multiple countries are expected to take part in 17-minute walkouts at 10 a.m. in local times zones on March 14, a month after 17 people were murdered in a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The demonstrations are aimed at honoring the lives of those killed and advocating for stricter gun laws.

Wednesday is already a scheduled late arrival day in District 225. Glenbrook North's first period of classes is scheduled to start at 9:45 a.m. and Glenbrook South is set to begin its first classes at 10 a.m.

"As a district, we recognize that freedom of expression is a protected right. However, freedom of expression is not a protected right when demonstrations advocate the violation of school policies or rules, are disruptive to the operation of the school, are considered offensive, or are in violation of the rights of others," wrote Superintendent Michael Riggle, Glenbrook South Principal Lauren Fagel, Glenbrook North Principal John Finan in a letter dated March 9.

While the first note did not explicitly threaten students with discipline for participating in the walkout, it noted that credit would not be given for work missed, teachers would not need to replicate class activities and parents were not allowed call out students who plan to participate for an excused or explained absence if they stay on school campus.

The follow-up note said students will not face discipline for their unexcused absence during the walkout and will be allowed to make up any classroom work or assignments missed.

Unexcused absences from the walkout will also not be counted against final exam exemptions for seniors, according to the administrators' subsequent letter, which was released following meetings with student leaders and concerns from parents.

"As previously stated, teachers will be teaching, supervising, and supporting students consistent with their professional duties and will not be participating in or publicly taking positions on the demonstration," it said.

Read both communications below:

March 9 message

The recent school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School continues to be disturbing and unsettling and on the minds of students, parents and staff. It has caused each of us to think deeply about safety and security not only in our schools, but in all public areas. As we continue our efforts to provide a safe and secure environment, I wish to thank everyone who has shared concerns and offered suggestions. It is important to remember that maintaining a safe school is a daily journey that we all must take together.

Several national demonstrations calling for student participation have been scheduled and are well advertised. The next demonstration is the #ENOUGH National Student Walkout scheduled for 10:00 a.m. across all time zones on March 14. The demonstration is to be 17 minutes long in memory of the 17 lives lost in the recent Parkland, Florida shooting. March 14 is a scheduled late arrival day for our students for the purpose of conducting professional development activities for staff and there will be no adjustment to that schedule.

As a district, we recognize that freedom of expression is a protected right. However, freedom of expression is not a protected right when demonstrations advocate the violation of school policies or rules, are disruptive to the operation of the school, are considered offensive, or are in violation of the rights of others.

Students who do not wish to participate in the demonstration have a right to continue learning without disruption. Teachers will be teaching, supervising and supporting students consistent with their professional duties and will not be participating in or publicly taking positions on the demonstration.

Students who elect to participate in the demonstration will be subject to school rules and attendance procedures as outlined in the Student-Parent Handbook. Walking out of a classroom will be considered an unexcused absence for the period of time that the student is out of the classroom. No credit will be given for work missed during the unexcused absence and teachers will not be required to replicate class activities. Students may not be called out by a parent for an excused or explained absence if they plan to remain on the school campus. Upon leaving the classroom, students who choose to participate in the demonstration are expected to be respectful of the rights of others by proceeding to and returning from the demonstration area in a quiet and timely manner.

During the morning of March 14, the school campus will be closed to visitors. Students will not be allowed to leave the campus unless they have been called out by a parent and have signed out properly in the attendance office.

The building administration teams will work to ensure the safety of all students, minimize disruptions, and protect the rights of all students. Although the teams are communicating with students about the demonstration, they are neither organizing or assisting students with it in any way.

If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact the building administration at your school.

With Glenbrook Pride,

Superintendent Michael D. Riggle
Glenbrook South Principal Lauren Fagel
Glenbrook North Principal John Finan

March 12 message

On Sunday evening, we met with student leaders from both GBN and GBS to discuss in detail their plans for the student walkout on March 14. During the meeting, they expressed their intent to remember and honor the victims of the tragedy in Parkland, Florida and the importance of having the opportunity to stand in solidarity with teenagers across the country who are concerned about school safety. The student leaders also discussed with us the range of emotions that exist among their classmates and their strong desire to bring their school community together as an opportunity for healing in the aftermath of a tragic event. It also became clear that the message sent to students and parents last Friday was inconsistent with a communication shared one week earlier with staff.

In an effort to restore consistency among staff, students, and parents, the following are revised guidelines for students who elect to participate in the walkout on March 14:

• Teachers will take attendance as part of normal classroom procedures. The recording of an unexcused absence is an accurate account of attendance.
• Students who are marked unexcused for the period of time in which they participate in the walkout will not be disciplined as a result of their absence.
• Students will be allowed to make up classroom work and assignments missed during the walkout.
• Unexcused absences during the walkout will not be counted against seniors when determining final exam exemptions.
• Student attendance and discipline records remain confidential and cannot be shared with colleges and universities. As a reminder, student transcripts do not include attendance or discipline information.

Public schools must remain politically neutral, and it is through Board policies and school rules that we are able to ensure that the rights of all students are recognized and protected. As previously stated, teachers will be teaching, supervising, and supporting students consistent with their professional duties and will not be participating in or publicly taking positions on the demonstration.

Finally, our discussion with the student leaders focused on concerns for student safety on this day. Our administrative teams are actively working to ensure that our students will be well supervised and safe. As previously stated, our school campus will be closed to visitors on that morning. We will be in constant communication with the Northbrook and Glenview Police Departments. The safety and security of students is our top priority on this day and every day.

Sincerely,

Superintendent Michael D. Riggle
Glenbrook South Principal Lauren Fagel
Glenbrook North Principal John Finan