Dodgeland board denies Turning Point USA chapter request to table in cafeteria

The Dodgeland School District board voted April 27 to deny a request from a student chapter of Turning Point USA to set up a recruitment table in the high school cafeteria during lunch.

Student speaker Dustin Crows told trustees his club sought brief, non-disruptive tabling during lunch to recruit members and provide informational materials. "We're not trying to create controversy. We're trying to grow and engage students in a positive and respectful way," Crows said during public comment.

Administration recommended denying cafeteria tabling under policy 5730 for non-curricular, student-initiated groups, arguing that allowing one group cafeteria access would create a precedent obliging the district to allow similar access to any other such club. The district's administrator told the board the district could offer alternatives: classroom meeting space, announcements in the daily bulletin, and poster displays. "We can provide them with access — announcements and a classroom — without opening cafeteria tabling to all non-curricular clubs," the administrator said.

Trustees voted to deny cafeteria tabling but to permit the club to continue meeting, to make PA announcements and to post posters around campus. The motion passed by voice vote; the board did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript.

Board members said they wanted to preserve the school's ability to apply consistent rules to all student groups while still providing reasonable avenues for student expression and recruitment.

Next steps: the club retains the right to meet on campus and to request PA announcements; staff will implement the agreed-upon alternatives and continue to apply policy 5730 consistently.