Student group asks Churchill County School Board to restore campus access after club suspended

James Hines, vice president of Turning Point USA at Churchill County High School, asked the Churchill County School District Board of Trustees on the record to restore his club’s access to campus after he said school officials told the group on March 13, 2025, that it could no longer meet there because of a Second Amendment–themed poster.

“We were given no written explanation and no reference to any specific policy violation,” Hines told the board during public comment. “It appears this decision was based on the content of our message, not on any actual rule we violated.”

Hines said Turning Point USA is a nonprofit civic organization that has followed school guidelines and told trustees the district’s action appeared to conflict with the federal Equal Access Act. He cited federal case law, including Westside Community Schools v. Mergens (1990) and Tinker v. Des Moines (1969), saying schools that receive federal funds generally must provide equal access to student-initiated groups unless the speech causes substantial disruption.

The board did not take immediate action on Hines’s request during the public-comment segment. Presiding officer (name not given) thanked him and then moved on to scheduled agenda items; there was no recorded vote or formal staff response that restored the club’s access during the meeting.

Trustees and administrators present did not provide a formal legal finding at the meeting. Hines asked the board to “review this decision and restore our club's access to campus,” and his request was entered into the public record for follow-up.

Next steps: Hines’s statement was recorded during the meeting’s public comment period; the board’s published minutes will include a summary of public comments and the request may be considered under regular agenda procedures or brought back to the board for discussion at a future meeting.