Millennium Charter High School students, parents stage walkout

UPDATE 1/29/16 5:45 PM:

Parents of students at a Central Coast high school are demanding answers from the Governing Board of Directors. Because many felt their concerns were falling on deaf ears. Millennium Charter High School students and their parents staged a walkout on Friday. The walkout was in support of the school principal, Peter Gray, who many believe could lose his job.

“We are here in peaceful protest,” parent Jennifer Drillinger said. “We are not trying to stir up trouble for the school. We just want our voices, however, if they are silent right now, that we want them to be heard.”

Parents say the friction between them and the board began months ago, when a revision was made to allow a parent and a teacher to sit on the board. A parent was allowed in, but not a teacher.

“These teachers are with our children more than we are and certainly more than the Governing Board of Directors is,” parent Koly McBride said. “These are the people that know about our students, their ins, their outs, their daily lives, their personalities. To not allow someone that has access to my child for 12 hours a day, to have a voice on a governing board, after it has been voted on is just ridiculous.”

Tension has mounted because parents fear the school’s beloved principal could lose his job. On Friday night, the board is to discuss the possible dismissal of a public employee. While that employee has not been identified, many believe it is Gray.

“He is the backbone to this school,” Drillinger said. “Without him, there is no school. Without him, this school would fall.”

Some parents believe there could be a compromise if there were more open lines of communication. Some students, however, feel stronger changes should be implemented.

“We’re hoping to politely get the message across that we ask the board, respectfully, to step down from their position, because they have, for a lack of better words, overstayed their welcome,” senior Hunter Thompson said.

Nicole Garzino is a board member and parent of two Millennium students. She says she understands their frustrations but would like them to realize the board has the students’ best interest at heart.

“We want them to know that we have kids there,” Garzino said. “We want them to have the best education. So what we’re doing is looking at everything and helping the school move forwards in the best most positive way it can.”

ORIGINAL POST:

Parents of Millennium Charter High School students are demanding answers from the school’s Governing Board of Directors. Many say their concerns are falling on deaf ears.

Parents pulled their children from classes Friday morning to support Principal Peter Gray. The school’s governing board is expected to discuss in closed session Friday night the dismissal and release of a public employee. While that employee has not been named, many that is is Gray.

“We are here to show support for our principal, Peter Gray,” parent Jennifer Drillinger said. “He is the backbone to this school. Without him, there is no school. Without him, this school would fall. Our board, we have absolutely no faith in them at this point.”

We’ll have more on this story tonight on KION NewsChannel 5.