Middle schoolers join walkout to protest ICE

Students at Twelve Bridges and Whitney high schools walked out of class Monday morning to participate in a protest opposing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with a smaller group of students also leaving campus at Twelve Bridges Middle School, according to school officials. The walkout began around 11:15 a.m. with students from both high schools converging near Twelve Bridges Drive and Westview Drive before continuing along Twelve Bridges Drive as part of what organizers described online as an act of civil disobedience. In a message sent to families and staff Monday, Twelve Bridges Middle School Principal Jack Gout acknowledged students left campus to participate in the protest, though he said the school had not been notified in advance that middle school students would take part. "A protest is currently occurring near Twelve Bridges Drive," Gout wrote. "Although we had not heard that our students would participate in this protest, many of our students heard about it and chose to leave campus." In the email to parents, Gout said the school's position remains that students should be in class during instructional time and that students without permission to leave campus are expected to remain on campus for the full school day. However, he said the school would not physically stop students who chose to leave. "That being said, we will not interfere with students who leave campus, do so in a safe manner (i.e., leave through a designated gate and don't hop fences), and inform us they are doing so to participate in a protest," the message stated. Students who left campus without prior notice were marked absent and parents were notified, Gout said, adding that unexcused absences "do carry the potential of consequences," consistent with school policy. The school is identifying students who left campus and monitoring any protest activity connected to the walkout. The participation of middle school students prompted debate among parents on local Facebook groups, with some questioning how a closed campus could allow students to leave without parental consent. Western Placer Unified School District, which oversees schools in Lincoln, including Twelve Bridges High and Twelve Bridges Middle, said the district was aware of the planned walkout a week in advance and that staff responded in accordance with state law. "Staff supported students' rights to civic engagement in accordance with California Education Code Section 48205(a)(12)(A)-(B), which allows middle and high school students to be excused for participation in a civic or political event when proper notice is provided," the district said in a statement. "School administrators observed the activity to the extent possible to ensure student safety while allowing students to exercise their rights." According to WPUSD, 300 students participated in the walkout. Students who provided proper notice had their absences excused, while those who did not were marked unexcused and families were contacted. The district said it is not aware of any disciplinary actions resulting from the protest. "The district's responsibility is to comply with California Education Code while maintaining a safe, orderly learning environment," the statement said. "Respecting students' lawful rights to civic engagement does not constitute endorsement of a specific cause or activity." Whitney High School, located in Rocklin and part of the Rocklin Unified School District, was made aware of the planned walkout Saturday, Jan. 31, according to district spokesperson Sundeep Dosanjh. Dosanjh said Whitney administrators informed staff and families on Feb. 1 about the possible student walkout planned for Monday. "While the Rocklin Unified School District prioritizes the safety of its students and staff members throughout the school day, RUSD and its schools also respect students' constitutional rights to express themselves in compliance with the law," Dosanjh said in a statement. Dosanjh said regular attendance procedures were followed at Whitney, with students who left class marked with an unexcused absence for the time missed and parents notified.