Menomonee Falls District Issues Statement On Parkland Walkouts

MENOMONEE FALLS, WI — The Menomonee Falls School District has become the latest area school district to weigh in on the impending national school walkouts to either honor the 17 people who were shot and killed in Parkland Florida, or to call for stricter gun controls - or both.

"The national conversation around school safety is raising topics we want you to be informed of and ask that you stay involved. Students across the country are considering school walk outs as a means to have their voices heard. We feel it is important to address this topic with you directly," Menomonee Falls School District Patricia F. Greco said in a letter home to parents this week.

Citing student safety and parents' expectations that children be in school during school hours, district officials came out and said this week that they cannot "condone students walking out of school in an unsupervised environment while parents expect them to be in school," and that any walkouts will be counted as unexcused absences unless each participating student gains parental permission and notifies school staff.

The district said that they won't advocate for potential walkouts, however stopped short of banning them.

According to district officials, teachers and staff have held conversations with parents, students and community members around school safety, and that these insights are incredibly valuable

Greco said that she and Police Chief Anna Ruzinski are planning for student and parent forums within the next month to share school safety measures, personally answer questions, and seek additional input. This will be another opportunity for the district to gather feedback, she said.

In addition, Greco said that she, staff and teachers welcome students to share their input, feedback and concerns with school staff at any time, and also encourage them to share their input with their state and national legislators.

People attend a candlelight vigil for the victims of the Wednesday shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Fla., Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018. Nikolas Cruz, a former student, was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder on Thursday. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)