Resident praises student walkout, criticizes district for barring media; superintendent cites safety and apolitical posture
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Summary
Resident Monty Fowler praised Huntington High students who briefly walked out, urged the district to allow media coverage, and criticized the decision to bar reporters; Superintendent Hardesty defended the decision, citing safety, student privacy and a need to remain apolitical during instructional time.
Monty Fowler of Huntington told the board he applauded students who walked out at Huntington High and criticized the district’s decision not to allow media coverage of the event. "You didn't let the media up there to cover it," Fowler said, adding that limited local media presence could have amplified the students’ message and countered negative social-media commentary.
Superintendent Drew Hardesty responded that the district’s decision was intentional and based on school policy and safety concerns. Hardesty said keeping the district apolitical and protecting students during instructional time guided the choice not to allow media access. He noted prior practice of not permitting media at similar walkouts and emphasized student privacy and instructional-time preservation.
The board received the public comment and discussed consistent past practice of limiting media at in-school demonstrations; no policy vote was taken at the meeting.