Students and community members urged the Pasco County School Board on Tuesday not to eliminate language governing student peaceful assemblies from its code of conduct.

The guidelines currently state that students taking part in walkouts or peaceful assemblies should limit them to 15 minutes or less, gather in places they are typically allowed, and should not disrupt other classes. The proposed changes come amid a broader wave of student walkouts across the Tampa Bay area in recent weeks, largely in response to ICE enforcement actions.

More than a dozen students and community members told the board they did not want the guidelines removed, arguing their elimination would have a chilling effect on students’ right to free speech. Board member Jessica Wright said the district had to change how walkouts are addressed, citing disruption and safety concerns.

Superintendent Dr. John Legg suggested instead adding student peaceful assemblies to a list of student rights and responsibilities already included in the code, noting that no other student rights have written assembly guidelines. Critics of that approach said it would be too vague. Wiregrass Ranch High School senior Samantha Cooper argued that removing the specific guidelines would leave their application open to interpretation, potentially giving students little meaningful time to exercise their rights.

Also at the meeting, Legg introduced a new civics program tied to America’s 250th anniversary, aimed at getting student voices heard more frequently at school board meetings. Several speakers said removing the assembly guidelines would contradict the program’s civic engagement goals.

The board did not vote on the proposed changes on Tuesday.

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