Forest Lake, Minnesota. Forest Lake students staged a walkout to protest cuts to middle and high school clubs.
The proposed policy would withdraw Forest Lake Area School District support, including funding and staff advisors, from non-school-sponsored clubs. School-sponsored extracurricular activities, such as sports and student council, would not be affected.
Kate Nuebel organized the Friday protest alongside hundreds of her classmates.
“A lot of these clubs are needed to be there for safe spaces for kids,” Nuebel told me.
Clubs like the Black Student Union can only use a space in the school and be student-led, but students say that is insufficient.
“I go to it every Thursday and I like bonding with my people,” said Mikaia Law, a BSU member. “And there’s just no point in stopping this.”
“I am a member of the environmental club,” said senior Deegan Claflin. “Our advisor is very involved and knowledgeable. “And students learn from their advisors.”
Curt Rebelein Jr., president of the school board, is spearheading the effort to implement this proposed change.
He told KARE 11 over the phone that he is concerned that their current policies violate the equal access federal law, which prohibits public schools from discriminating against student groups based on the religious, political, or philosophical content of their meetings.
“Especially now that we are under more federal scrutiny, let’s make sure we are following the rules clearly,” Rebelein told the crowd. “Our primary goal is to provide a solid legal framework so we can operate within the confines of the law.”
“There are middle school groups in literally every single surrounding public school district,” said parent Claire Luger, who believes Rebelein’s current policy violates the law. “These are his own ideas. I find it difficult to believe that this is motivated by an agenda.”
Luger is part of a coalition that has gathered 1,400 signatures on a petition opposing the proposal.
“Not every student wants to be in soccer, not every student wants to be in football, and so for those kids who have different interests, that provides them a place to connect with people,” says Luger.