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Piscataway leaders say district will support studentsright to protest, pause planned demonstration
Summary
School board president Nancy Salgado Cowan and Superintendent Erskin Arlover said the Piscataway Township School District postponed a student protest Friday to work with students on a safer, school-supported way for them to express concerns about immigration enforcement and other issues.
Nancy Salgado Cowan, the Piscataway Township School Districtschool board president, and Superintendent Erskin Arlover said the district supports studentsright to express concerns about immigration enforcement and other actions of the current administration, and that a planned protest set for Friday was put on hold so district leaders and students could plan a safer forum.
"We wanted to talk to you today about our district's support for the rights of students who wish to express their concern regarding immigration enforcement," the statement said. The leaders said students, school leaders and administrators are working together "to ensure that our students feel heard, supported, respected," while also maintaining "a safe and orderly school environment."
The statement said the protest scheduled for Friday was postponed so the district could help students plan "a future opportunity to express their perspectives in a safe and respectful manner." The speakers described the outcome as "positive and constructive," saying the approach allows students to "still share their voice" while giving the board and administration a way to support student expression and encourage responsible conduct.
The district said students had raised concerns "including ISIS presence here in New Jersey as well as broader actions of the current administration." The statement presents that as students' concerns; it does not assert the district verified those claims. School leaders emphasized that protecting students' civil liberties would be balanced with maintaining an inclusive, orderly learning environment.
The statement closed by thanking school leaders, the Township of Piscataway and the board of education for working with students, and urged everyone to take care of themselves and each other.
The district did not provide a date for the planned alternative event or details about its format; those were described only as the product of ongoing collaboration between students and administrators.
