Grand Blanc school locks doors to avoid student walkout over gun violence

GRAND BLANC, MI - While thousands of students across the nation walked out of their schools today in a protest of gun violence, Grand Blanc High School locked its classroom doors to bar its students from taking part.

Instead, the district encouraged students to write letters to elected officials in support of gun reform.

Marking the one-month anniversary of the fatal school shooting in Parkland, Florida, the Enough! National Walk Out took place in schools across Michigan and the country at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 14. Organized by Women's March Youth Empower, many protests lasted 17 minutes - one minute for each of the victims in the Valentine's Day massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

But at 9:55 a.m. at Grand Blanc High School, administrators put the school in "secure mode." Students said all classroom doors were locked until the end of third period at 10:23 a.m.

In an email to students and parents, GBHS Principal Michael Fray said he and the school's resource officer decided on the security provision "in the interest of maintaining a safe school environment."

MLive-The Flint Journal could not immediately reach Fray nor Superintendent Clarence Garner for comment on the matter. 

According to a statement from Grand Blanc City Police, the decision to put the school in "secure mode" was made after the school's resource officer received information from student that "someone would get hurt" if the walkout took place.

"We maintain a belief that our students should be allowed the opportunity to have their voices heard on the topic of school safety," Fray's email said. "With that said, we remain steadfast in our belief that maintaining a safe and orderly school environment is our number one responsibility."

 

At 10 a.m., the high school emailed a list of elected officials for students to contact to "advocate a solution to the school safety debate."

"As many of you know, there is a nationally advertised Student Walkout for today, March 14 at 10:00am. We are NOT supporting participation in this walkout and any attempt to walkout will be considered skipping class," Fray's message to students read. "We do believe in your right to assemble and are working with a group of students to provide an organized and safe walkout event on April 20^th."

After the secure mode was lifted, around 100 students filled the hallway in front of the school's main office for a 17-minute sit-in, instead.

However, some Grand Blanc students say they feel their rights were violated by the school's decision to lock them into their classrooms during the protest period.

"Going into secure mode like that, everyone went into fear because we thought there was an actual threat," said junior Lena Kas-Mikha, who had planned to participate in the walkout. "Me, personally, and my friends, we were upset because we felt like we were lied to ... when we found out it was just to stop the walkout."

Senior Caroline Lostutter said she hadn't planned to participate in the school protest, but took to Twitter after the lock-in was announced to voice her frustration with the school's handling of the matter.

"It felt like an abuse of power, not to give the choice to people who wanted to participate," Lostutter said. "I think their intentions were good in trying to keep students safe, but they should have sent out hall monitors or something if they were worried about it They didn't handle things in the best way and it kind of spiraled."

Since the morning's events, Grand Blanc Community Schools posted to Facebook announcing its decision to put the high school into secure mode "in the interest of maintaining a safe school environment."

Since the morning's events, Grand Blanc Community Schools posted to Facebook announcing its decision to put the high school into secure mode "in the interest of maintaining a safe school environment."