Brandywine Heights Area School District suspended 21 high school students for walking out of the school building on March 14.
Students walked outside at 10 a.m. and gathered around the school flag to participate in the national movement #Enough National School Walkout that calls for Congress to pass tighter federal gun laws. Prior to March 14, students were informed that walking outside would lead to suspension, citing safety as the main concern.
“As the Superintendent of the District, I was very concerned with the safety implications of having students leave a school building on a nationally advertised date and time,” said Brandywine Heights Superintendent Andrew Potteiger. “As a response to the school safety concerns, both nationally and within our own community, it is important that we allow our students to reflect and have a voice on how we can improve safety within our schools and locally in our community.”
Potteiger said there were two unique opportunities that were created to foster student voice on March 14.
“Our intention was not to stifle students but to provide them avenues to express their voice and concern in an influential manner,” he said.
In lieu of a Walkout on March 14, a Safety Symposium was created at the High School, consisting of a panel that included the Superintendent, Sen. Judy Schwank, State Police Trooper David Boehm and Brandywine Heights School Board President Bryan Rothermel.
“The Safety Symposium was an excellent opportunity for our students to speak to and interact with lawmakers and law enforcement on the issue of school safety, to share their personal insights and ultimately help us continue to enhance our safety efforts and measures through their input,” said Potteiger. “Middle School students had a similar opportunity to participate in the symposium through remote video conference.”
Potteiger said that the discussion points were developed from a survey on student safety that went to all students with an opportunity for them to provide written suggestions on the topic points they wanted to hear discussed.
“The student responses to the safety survey were the driving factor behind creating the structure for the event. At the end of the event, students had the opportunity to ask any individual question to any of the panelists in an informal setting,” he said.
The panel discussion questions based on student feedback were 1. What preventative measures are being taken to keep our public areas and schools safe (BHASD and in general)? 2. Are safety issues, specifically active shooter scenarios, a gun control or mental health issue? 3. What are your thoughts regarding the arming of teachers? 4. How do you define mental health? How do you address mental health concerns? 5. What are your recommendations for us to help support positive change moving forward?
“Additionally, some students approached the High School principal and were struggling with making a decision between attending the Safety Symposium or participating in the Walkout to honor the victims,” said Potteiger. “In listening to the concerns of the students, 17 minutes were set aside at the end of the day, in addition to the Safety Symposium, for students to honor the victims of the incident in Florida. This time was created to be student driven and allow them to develop their own vision of how they wanted to honor those lost.”
Potteiger concluded his comments, saying, “Ultimately, the safety of all the students is first and foremost and the decision to hold two events inside was the safest option.”
