Council Rock Preparing For Student Walkout Against Gun Violence

Council Rock officials say they will permit any district student to participate in a 17-minute national walkout protest planned on March 14 to advocate for stronger gun laws. The National School Walkout has been planned in response to the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida.

Walkout events are planned across the country after 17 students, teachers, and coaches were killed and numerous people injured in the Valentine's Day massacre. Students participating in the National Walkout will leave their classrooms for 17 minutes – one minute for each life taken at the school on Feb. 14, according to organizers.

"Since Council Rock School District respects the rights of our students to peacefully assemble, we will permit any student who wishes to participate in this organized event to do so. As is always the case for us, student safety is paramount," district Superintendent Robert Fraser wrote in an email to parents.

Fraser said the walkout has been discussed among the district's administrative team.

"We are all in agreement that student activity on March 14th must not only be proactively organized, but also fully supervised by CRSD administrators, teachers, and safety personnel," he said.

Fraser said in advance of the event, he will meet with all building principals to discuss a "cohesive, district-wide approach" for the walkout. "Together we will develop a plan for students who wish to participate as well as those who do not," he said in the email to parents.

"It is an educator’s job at times to work with students to help them make meaning of the world in which they live," Fraser said. "I am sure that many of our classes have engaged in general discussions around last week’s tragedy, and I have full confidence that our faculty has handled such delicate conversations masterfully."

AP Photo/Evan Vucci