Students in the Forest Hills School District are staging a walkout Wednesday in response to the cancelation of a planned diversity day at Turpin High School.The planned protest comes after community concerns after the district decided to cancel diversity day earlier this month.Diversity day has been going on for six years at Turpin before the decision.A public hearing is now planned for Wednesday night before the regularly scheduled school board meeting where this is likely to come up.The district issued a statement saying it is aware of potential demonstrations being planned by students during the school day.District leaders say they respect the rights of students to express their opinions.Parents and students who support the day said they want answers as to why it was postponed again.”Diversity Day to me has been one of the best things at Turpin that I have experienced so far,” senior Casey Lupariello said. Board members voted earlier this month 4-0 to ban Diversity Day from happening during school hours or with taxpayer resources.Lupariello is a leader of the event.”We just talk about the diversity of all kinds,” Lupariello said. “And, try to understand the people around us better and ourselves better, and try to get a better world view.”The high school senior said she is disappointed in the board’s decision, especially since it’s optional.Students need parental permission to attend.”I’m sad that I will have to miss it for my senior year. But what I am most worried about is kids in the future not being able to experience this event because it is extremely important,” Lupariello said.This is the second time the school board has postponed the event.In March, it was put on hold, due to a permission slip issue the board said.Now, parents are questioning what is and is not the truth.”A minority of people, many of which we don’t believe are actual parents of Turpin students, are making the decision for the majority of these Turpin students who want to participate,” parent Natalie Hastings said.The event has been held for six years.This time, the largest turnout was expected.According to Lupariello, nearly 160 students were registered to attend.Now the event, which was scheduled for Wednesday, cannot happen during school hours or on school property.Diversity Day focuses on a variety of issues, including race in the criminal justice system.Speakers from the Freedom Center were scheduled to speak.Supporters of the event are scheduled to protest outside Forest Hills School District’s central offices at 6 p.m. Monday.
Students in the Forest Hills School District are staging a walkout Wednesday in response to the cancelation of a planned diversity day at Turpin High School.
The planned protest comes after community concerns after the district decided to cancel diversity day earlier this month.
Diversity day has been going on for six years at Turpin before the decision.
A public hearing is now planned for Wednesday night before the regularly scheduled school board meeting where this is likely to come up.
The district issued a statement saying it is aware of potential demonstrations being planned by students during the school day.
District leaders say they respect the rights of students to express their opinions.
Parents and students who support the day said they want answers as to why it was postponed again.
“Diversity Day to me has been one of the best things at Turpin that I have experienced so far,” senior Casey Lupariello said.
Board members voted earlier this month 4-0 to ban Diversity Day from happening during school hours or with taxpayer resources.
Lupariello is a leader of the event.
“We just talk about the diversity of all kinds,” Lupariello said. “And, try to understand the people around us better and ourselves better, and try to get a better world view.”
The high school senior said she is disappointed in the board’s decision, especially since it’s optional.
Students need parental permission to attend.
“I’m sad that I will have to miss it for my senior year. But what I am most worried about is kids in the future not being able to experience this event because it is extremely important,” Lupariello said.
This is the second time the school board has postponed the event.
In March, it was put on hold, due to a permission slip issue the board said.
Now, parents are questioning what is and is not the truth.
“A minority of people, many of which we don’t believe are actual parents of Turpin students, are making the decision for the majority of these Turpin students who want to participate,” parent Natalie Hastings said.
The event has been held for six years.
This time, the largest turnout was expected.
According to Lupariello, nearly 160 students were registered to attend.
Now the event, which was scheduled for Wednesday, cannot happen during school hours or on school property.
Diversity Day focuses on a variety of issues, including race in the criminal justice system.
Speakers from the Freedom Center were scheduled to speak.
Supporters of the event are scheduled to protest outside Forest Hills School District’s central offices at 6 p.m. Monday.
