Mayor on student walkout: ‘inspiring’

After attending the March 14 student walkout at Decatur High School, Mayor Patti Garrett said, “It was inspiring. I’m proud of the kids for drawing attention to something important.”

The demonstration was part of a national movement of students protesting gun violence one month to the day after 17 students and faculty were killed at a Parkland, Florida high school.

Superintendent David Dude estimated that “400 to 600” DHS students walked out to North McDonough Street in front of the high school. He added that even more left Renfroe Middle School for the field behind the building, while a handful of parents checked out children at the 4/5 Academy at Fifth Avenue.

At Decatur High students held 17 minutes of silence, with the name of a victim read aloud every minute.

“I was very impressed,” said Dude, who was at DHS. “Nobody was on a cell phone and they behaved with decorum in a way I’ve never seen.”

City Schools Decatur’s code of conduct says the minimum punishment for a walk out is in-school suspension, but principals have certain flexibility. Dude said as far as he knew no one was suspended Wednesday.

Decatur’s school board is planning an in-depth discussion on updating the district’s safety procedures during its next meeting, 6:30 p.m., March 20, at City Schools Decatur’s central office, 125 Electric Avenue. The dialogue was planned several months ago before the Parkland shooting.