Parent group urges district to notify families after Saint Stephen's High School walkout

Summary

During public comment, Lori Fowler told the Catawba County Board of Education that students staged a walkout at Saint Stephen's High School during school hours and criticized the district for not informing parents in advance; she urged a policy change to ensure parental notification for similar events.

Lori Fowler told the Catawba County Board of Education during the public-comment period on Dec. 15 that Saint Stephen's High School students staged a walkout and protest on school property during school hours and that parents were not notified in advance.

"Parents were not given the opportunity to discuss their child…with their child the issues around this protest to prepare them for the choice of whether to participate or not," Fowler said. She said the school board, the superintendent and the sheriff's office were aware the event would occur, and asked why parents who "are the most important person of a child's life" were not similarly notified.

Fowler urged the district to develop a policy to inform parents ahead of time about events on school property that occur during school hours so families may prepare and discuss participation, calling the lack of notification a concern for parental rights and student preparedness.

Board members did not take public-action steps during the comment period; the comment was recorded for the meeting record.