Security measures are being taken to protect Columbus high school and middle school students who stage a symbolic walkout Friday.
Students at the three high schools and one or both middle schools in the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. may walk out briefly Friday to protest gun violence, said Larry Perkinson, BCSC employee and student assistance coordinator.
The activity will coincide with a national walkout marking the 19th anniversary of the school shootings at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, that resulted in 15 people being killed, including the two teen shooters.
The Columbus area schools where walkouts are planned will set up perimeters where students can gather on Friday, Perkinson said.
“We respect students’ rights to memorialize things and express their concerns,” he said.
Extra law enforcement will be present around schools where planned walkouts take place, said Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department.
Students in the district have had an opportunity to work closely with administrators about any walkout plans they have developed, Superintendent Jim Roberts said.
“Our students have done an outstanding job of talking to the right people and making this a productive educational experience,” Roberts said. “We believe education extends beyond the four walls of a classroom.”
The Columbus North Young Democrats Club at Columbus North High School was the first local school to organize a walkout, planned for 10 a.m. Friday.
The walkout at North is planned for 17 minutes, one minute each for the 17 people killed during the Feb. 14 school shooting in Parkland, Florida, said Megan Furber, a senior and member of the Young Democrats Club.
Similar walkout plans are anticipated at Columbus East and Columbus Signature Academy – New Tech high schools, Perkinson said.
While nothing formal had yet been planned, CSA New Tech principal Mike Reed said students will be able to walk outside if they choose to.
While the walkout at North is scheduled for 10 a.m., Perkinson said walkouts at other schools could occur at different times of the day.
Three seventh-grade students at Northside Middle School approached assistant principal Evan Burton on Monday with their plans to stage a walkout, Northside principal Amy Dixon said.
The turnout at Northside is expected to be small, but Dixon said she is supportive of the students’ efforts.
“They’ve been very candid with us,” Dixon said, adding that she was confident that the outdoor gathering area will be safe.
Perkinson also said it is possible that a walkout could also occur at Central Middle School. About 100 Central students staged a 17-minute walkout a week after the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
