Hays CISD Emphasizes Student Safety and Family Partnership Following Recent Campus Walkouts
In the wake of recent student protests across Hays Consolidated Independent School District, district leaders are sharing a message grounded in care, concern, and community responsibility. While national issues have sparked strong emotions among students and families, Hays CISD officials say their primary role remains clear: keeping students safe, supported, and learning.
That focus became especially real earlier this week when a 12-year-old student left Simon Middle School during a protest without permission and walked more than five miles before arriving at Lehman High School, frightened and unsure how to get home. Staff at Lehman stepped in, provided comfort, and helped reunite the child with his family. The incident did not make headlines or trend online, but district leaders say it highlights a quieter, often unseen consequence of campus walkouts—student safety risks that can escalate quickly.
Why the District Is Asking Students to Stay in Class
Hays CISD officials acknowledge that when large numbers of students attempt to leave campus at the same time, schools face real limitations. Staff members are not permitted to physically restrain students, and campuses are not staffed to block mass departures. To help reinforce expectations, the district has added pop-up reminders on student devices clarifying that students do not have permission to leave school during instructional hours.
District leadership has also emphasized that Hays CISD is not a faceless institution but a collection of people—students, parents, educators, taxpayers, and neighbors—each bringing different perspectives. In recent days, some community members have expressed frustration that the district has not taken a public stance on the broader political issues tied to the protests, while others have interpreted district communications as doing just that. Officials stress that the district cannot take sides on national political matters and is instead committed to education and student well-being.
State Guidance and Local Impact
Adding urgency to the situation, the Texas Education Agency recently released guidance outlining potential consequences of student walkouts. According to the agency, districts could face loss of funding tied to daily attendance, investigations or sanctions against educators accused of facilitating protests, and even state intervention that could replace locally elected school boards with state-appointed management.
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Hays CISD leaders say these outcomes matter not as abstract policy concerns, but because of how directly they affect students and the community. Attendance funding supports classroom resources, programs, and the ability to recruit and retain high-quality teachers. District officials have also voiced concern about protecting young educators’ careers and preserving local decision-making.
Encouraging Dialogue, Responsibility, and Safe Choices
The district is asking parents and guardians to continue having open conversations with their children about expressing their views in ways that are both lawful and safe. Hays CISD leaders note that students do have constitutional rights, but those rights come with responsibilities and real-world consequences—especially when schools become the stage for protest activity.
Families who wish for their children to participate in protests are encouraged to follow established procedures, including signing students out of school and ensuring protests take place off campus. District officials stress that while student voices matter, actions taken on school grounds can have lasting effects on classmates, teachers, and the broader community.
As tensions remain high around national issues, Hays CISD is urging a collective pause to center on what unites the district: protecting children, maintaining safe campuses, and keeping education moving forward. The message to families is not one of discipline or controversy, but of partnership—working together to help students navigate difficult moments thoughtfully and safely.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
