Local High School Walkout

On April 22, 2025 at Nevada Union High School in Nevada County, California, students “walked out,” refusing to go to classes. One of the main reasons given for the walk out was the rejection by the NJUHSD Board of Trustees of Resolution #22-24/25 on April 9, 2025. The walk out occurred on Tuesday, the day classes resumed after more than a week of spring break, which extended into Monday. 

A graphic for the walkout was distributed among peers, which local adult county residents shared noting the multiple spelling and grammatical errors and that perhaps the teens should have stayed in school.

After a few hundred students filed up to Ridge Road and gathered, a young man with a megaphone stood before them, thanking the students for joining the protest. He asked if anyone would be vulnerable and tell a story about an injustice that they experience on campus. A young man who introduced himself as Spencer Gillespie quickly walked forward to take the megaphone and talk about his disgust with President Trump’s decisions, to loud cheers from the audience. A few more students followed him, sharing their disgust for President Trump as well as for the school board. 

Students gather to protest on NU campus in Nevada County, California

The event was called a “district-wide” walkout, but photos sent from Bear River showed no students leaving class to protest and there seemed to be no videos or reports about a protest at Silver Springs or Ghidotti, although some Ghidotti students may have shown up at NU for the protest. 

Bear River campus was clear, with students staying in classes.

Resolution #22-24/25, entitled “Every Student Belongs,” was presented by Trustee Wendy Willoughby. The resolution called for a “commitment to ensuring the safety, inclusion, belonging, and affirmation” of all students. Statements in the policy were redundant with existing policy. For example, the safety and inclusion of all students currently already exists in board policy. Another example is a statement in the resolution demanding that discrimination and bullying be prohibited, which is already the case in district policy and is enforced on all campuses. 

The majority of the board voted no to the resolution in the April 9 board meeting, citing a conflict of the resolution’s language with how federal funding to schools will be allocated. It was also mentioned that the district’s attorney had not been approached for advice on the content of the resolution before bringing it to a vote. 

In that meeting, Trustee Ken Johnson said, “this resolution is both unwise and fiscally irresponsible. I get it. I get what you’re saying. I truly do. But why would you risk 1.7 million dollars in federal funding every year? Why would you risk our students’ education to get a few minutes of fame?” Board President Andrew Klein also shared why he believed it would be unwise to pass the resolution. He said, “Let me be clear, every student does belong, but that does not require the district to sort, label, or prioritize students based on identity. It requires that we treat every student equally with dignity with respect and high expectations, without exception or favoritism.” 

Reactions

When asked for comment on the walk out, Board President Andrew Klein said, “I fully support the 1st amendment, if students want to protest democracy and their democratically elected leaders actions of keeping their school fiscally viable, then go right ahead. Tomorrow they better get their butts back in class so they can learn economics and math.”

Some comments on social media from adults were supportive of the teens who walked out, saying “I hope those in power are paying attention!” and “I love these motivated passionate young people who are our future!” and others questioned their motives. “Good for them (in my most sarcastic tone) Although knowing some of those kids personally they clearly are just there to be out of class.”

Another person commented, “So I'm looking in this crowd of teenagers and I have spotted a few that have bullied other students. There are kids in this crowd that are responsible for making their peers feel unsafe on campus. It's like the pot calling the kettle black.”

“What I see is a bunch of kids walking out to supposedly show how much they value their education. My question is if we were able to see their report cards would their grades indicate that they are as dedicated to their academic studies as they are to walking out?”

One social media comment asked which teacher organized the protest. Someone replied that it was organized by the students, but another person argued that extra credit was offered to students if they would protest. 

Consequences

Principal Kelly Rhoden of Nevada Union High School issued the following statement to parents via email, noting that protesting students will be given an unexcused absence, even if parents called in attempting to excuse their children. 

"Today’s Student Walkout/Protest Addressing NJUHSD School Board’s No Vote on Resolution 22 Good evening, Miners and Miner families. Many of you have been asking me questions about the "District Wide Walkout" scheduled for today by students. There was a peaceful walkout by many students from Nevada Union High School and across the District in protest of last month’s no vote by the NJUHSD School Board on Resolution 22. Students organized on their own and held a peaceful protest on Ridge Road and outside the District Office. Administration, Campus Supervisor, and the Nevada County Sheriff were present to ensure the safety of our students. As a reminder, while we support students’ rights to express themselves respectfully, certain actions may violate district policy and result in disciplinary consequences. The attendance office is receiving a high volume of calls to excuse students from class for the protest. The attendance office has been advised that students' attendance cannot be cleared for a walkout/protest. There are still school consequences. Below is information that has been forwarded to me to help answer some of your questions. Please see bullet point #5 below. Per Board Administrative Regulation 5131.4: Student Disturbances - the following activities are prohibited and subject to discipline: Disturbing the peace, including fighting, provoking others to fight, or causing a riot; Disrupting school operations, including expression that incites unlawful acts or substantially disrupts school activity (Education Code 48907); Participating in unauthorized assemblies, sit-ins, or stand-ins that obstruct normal access to school areas; Refusing to disperse when directed by school personnel; Boycotting school, including any form of protest involving nonattendance during required instructional time. These absences will be recorded as unexcused, regardless of parent/guardian permission. Sincerely, Kelly Rhoden, Principal Nevada Union High School"