- Buchholz High School students faced discipline for participating in a Feb. 6 walkout protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
- Some students left campus without following required check-out procedures despite repeated warnings, prompting disciplinary action under the Code of Student Conduct.
- Florida's Education Commissioner issued a memo on February 3 mandating that protests not disrupt instructional time and forbidding staff from encouraging protests during school hours.
An unspecified number of Buchholz High School (BHS) students are facing disciplinary actions stemming from a student walkout on Friday, Feb. 6.
Jackie Johnson, a spokesperson for Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS), sent the following statement to media outlets Friday evening regarding the walkout.
“After receiving information about a potential student walkout planned for today, Friday, February 6, the administration at Buchholz High School notified students and families that participation in any protest during instructional time or any activity that would disrupt instructional time would result in disciplinary action in accordance with the Code of Student Conduct. In preparation, the administration arranged for additional supervision and a law enforcement presence on campus.
“During the first lunch period, a number of students exited the school building but remained on campus. The majority of students returned to class at the conclusion of the lunch period. Despite multiple and repeated warnings from school administrators, however, some students left campus without following required check-out procedures. Law enforcement continued to monitor the students while they were off campus to ensure their safety. Students who left campus without authorization are being disciplined in accordance with the Code of Student Conduct for leaving campus without permission. Maintaining a safe, orderly, and effective learning environment remains the highest priority for both school and district administration.”
In a follow-up email reply to Mainstreet on Monday morning, Johnson said BHS students were protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). She added that she didn’t have a total number on how many students are facing disciplinary actions, but that these students would be “disciplined in keeping with the Code of Student Conduct based on their specific actions and circumstances.”
The walkout at BHS is the latest in a wave of student anti-ICE protests that have occurred across the state and country recently.
Florida Education Commissioner Anastasious Kamoutsas issued a memorandum to all school district superintendents across the state on Feb. 3, in which he addressed student protests during instructional time.
In the memo, Kamoutsas acknowledges that students have rights to free expression, including peaceful protest, but only “when such expression complies with applicable law.”
“Any student whose actions are to the contrary should be appropriately disciplined,” he said. “[School] Districts have a responsibility to ensure that any protest activity does not interrupt instructional time, school operations and campus safety.”
Kamoutsas also said school administrators and instructional staff are not allowed to “encourage, organize, promote, or facilitate student participation in protest activity during the school day.”
“Any conduct by school or district personnel that diverts students from instruction, undermines classroom authority, or compromises student supervision violates professional responsibilities and warrants disciplinary action,” he said.
Nick Anschultz is a Report for America corps member and writes about education for Mainstreet Daily News. This position is supported by local donations through the Community Catalyst for Local Journalism Fund at the Community Foundation of North Central Florida.