Administrators at Missoula School District One are aware of the national school walkouts on March 14 and April 20, and have created procedures to deal with the situation.

Communications Director Hatton Littman said even though students are preparing to walk out, the district is not sanctioning the activity.

“The district realizes the desire to both memorialize and recognize the lives that were lost at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, as well as to address concerns over school safety,” said Littman. “Our district is very aware that many students and their parents plan to participate in the walkouts, however, the school district is not sanctioning the events. The district has no plans to resist students or their families from participating, we’re simply not sanctioning them.”

Littman said school will proceed as usual on those days, with allowances made for students to participate.

“Our first priority is creating safe learning spaces for our students, so school will happen on a normal schedule, and any student who chooses to participate will have to follow our normal attendance procedures,” she said. “They are allowed to sign out as long as they have been excused in advance by a parent. If they haven’t been excused then it will be treated as an unexcused absence. For elementary and middle school students, they are not allowed to leave the campus without being accompanied by a parent or guardian.”

Littman said she has heard that many students plan to participate in the walkouts, but has no firm numbers.

The official protocol for the walkouts is available here.

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