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Community members urge Whitehall School District to allow student play after principal-approval dispute
Summary
Community members told the Whitehall School Board Jan. 7 that a district policy requiring high school principal approval prevented a student production of "I Don’t Want to Talk About It" from being performed for peers; speakers urged reclassification as a community production or other remedies so students can present their work.
Liz Pullman told the Whitehall School District board on Jan. 7 that the high school drama department was told it could present the play "I Don’t Want to Talk About It" at the state festival but not perform it for its peers, and urged the board to reconsider the district policy that requires the high school principal’s approval for productions. Pullman said she contacted the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) and the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) for guidance and that she believes the play “carries significant impact.”
Dorie Westhoven read a letter from the play’s playwright to Chiara Schober expressing support for the student production. Kelly McCall described the situation as a likely miscommunication among parents, district staff and DPHHS and said community members want a solution that allows the students to perform. Susan Mercer asked about the formal approval procedure, noting students have been working on the play since November and that it would be disappointing if they could not perform.
Speakers proposed several practical workarounds: Mikel Kelley suggested rebranding the performance as a community theater event; Kelly McCall asked whether the play could take place at the school if it was not labeled a student-produced play; and Superintendent Hannah Nieskens clarified that, like other community events, the production could be held in district facilities if a facility-use agreement is submitted and it is labeled a community production. The superintendent’s remarks indicate the district has an alternate pathway (facility-use agreement) that may allow the performance without changing the approval policy itself.
The public comment period captured supporters urging the board to prioritize students’ educational and extracurricular opportunities while complying with district procedures. The transcript does not record a formal board motion or vote on changing the approval policy; board members heard the concerns and discussed potential administrative options to allow the students to perform.
The board did not take formal action on the policy during the Jan. 7 meeting; next steps for the play’s status or any policy review were not specified in the transcript.
