Student organizer of ‘Don’t Say Gay’ school walk-outs suspended

PALM COAST, Fla. – The student credited with organizing state-wide school demonstrations in protest of the Parental Rights in Education bill, also called the “Don’t Say Gay bill” by critics, was suspended Thursday from Flagler Palm Coast High School, according to multiple sources.

The school district declined to confirm specifics of the suspension, citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

Jack Petocz, 17, posted about his suspension on social media, as did Equality Florida, MoveOn, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist, and others.

Petocz also released a statement, claiming that school administrators suspended him for organizing the protest at FPCHS even though the school had given approval for the rallies.

“Although the school administration had initially approved the rally and expressed support for students’ civil liberties, their demeanor and tone drastically shifted as the rally progressed,” Petocz’s post said. “Administrators began confiscating pride flags and attempted to remove them from campus.”

Petocz’s post said he encouraged his classmates not to surrender their pride flags when administrators and staff attempted to confiscate them, and that following the rally, he was informed that he was suspended “indefinitely.”

According to the Flagler County School District, the student organizers had communicated with administrators about the rally and had been given certain parameters for how to stage it.

“School administration spoke with the event organizer numerous times about the expectations and parameters so that students could take part in a peaceful, safe protest,” district spokesperson Jason Wheeler told News4JAX. “A block of time had been set aside for students on both high school campuses to take part in their planned protest.”

Wheeler also said that students were told that if they reported back to class after the time allotted for the protest, they’d be subject to discipline.

“Student leaders were told “no flags” prior to and at the beginning of the event so as to avoid undue safety concerns and campus disruptions,” Wheeler said in the statement.

When asked to clarify, Wheeler pointed the district’s Student Code of Conduct which vaguely defines “prohibited items” as items, “which are not required to participate in school activities or lessons.” The district’s full statement is below.

In response to Petocz’s suspension, thousands of classmates and supporters signed an online petition calling for the district to reinstate him.

The petition was created by Petocz’s classmate and the school’s junior class president, Cameron Driggers.

“We have strength in numbers,” Driggers said of yesterday’s state-wide, student-led demonstrations. “If we make a stand now, we show those representing us that we have a voice and that we can comprehend and critical think and basically stand up for ourselves. It gives us credibility as a generation, and lets them know that we are taking this seriously.”

Full statement from the Flagler County School District:

“First, there is School Board Policy 522 which states “Any student who participates in a boycott, walkout, sit-in, strike, or any similar disruptive action which interferes with an orderly operation of the school shall be deemed guilty of serious misconduct and shall be subject to suspension or dismissal from school.” That being said, in the past our school administrators have successfully worked with students who have held walkouts to take part in a peaceful protest, while not interfering with the learning environment of students who do not wish to participate. That is the same in this case.

District administrators worked this week with the principals at both high schools to establish a plan of action to allow for the student protest, while not disrupting other students who prefer to not take part. Additionally, they must take into account the safety of those students who do participate.

An open line of communication between students or student leaders and school administrators, teachers, and staff is vital to ensure concerns that a student has can be properly addressed and handled within the confines of the school day. However, this must be done without marginalizing that student’s concerns or upending the learning environment for other students.

A block of time had been set aside for students on both high school campuses to take part in their planned protest. They then were given the opportunity to head back to their classrooms. If students reported to class beyond the time allotted, they would then be subject to the Student Code of Conduct.

Student leaders were told “no flags” prior to and at the beginning of the event so as to avoid undue safety concerns and campus disruptions. This is laid out in our Student Code of Conduct, which prohibits items not required for school/educational lessons.

School administration spoke with the event organizer numerous times about the expectations and parameters so that students could take part in a peaceful, safe protest.

As for disciplinary actions, we are not permitted to speak about specific students due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). We can say school administrators are reviewing several videos from the event.”

Jason Wheeler, spokesperson, Flagler County School District