STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

Wood River High School students will hold a gathering on Wednesday, March 14, to express their viewpoints on school safety.

Others will not be permitted to show support for the students, as the gathering is for students only and therefore closed to the public.

WRHS Principal John Pearce approved the gathering from 10 to 10:30 p.m. that Wednesday after meeting with students.

The gathering takes place on the same day as the National School Walkout, a protest led by students demanding action against gun violence following the murders of 17 students and faculty a month earlier at Parkland High School in Florida.

The WRHS gathering is not about gun rights, the students said, but about school safety and the opportunity to express First Amendment rights.

The gathering will be held during the student advisory period. Students may attend the gathering or stay in their advisory class.

Wood River High School, Silver Creek High School and the Community Campus will be closed to visitors during this time. Parents who need to pick up their child during this time will have to wait until the campus reopens. Students who leave campus will be considered absent.

Those conducting business with College of Southern Idaho, Blaine County Recreation District or the Region IV Music Competition will be stopped by Hailey Police and allowed on campus after stating the purpose of their visit.

Community School Senior Grace Hoffman said she has not heard of plans for a walkout at Community School but would be surprised if her fellow students did nothing.

“It’s important to show support for gun laws,” she said. “We’ve got to keep pushing.”