MARYSVILLE – A confederate flag showed up on one campus, and some students walked out for a while at another on Tuesday.
Such is the turmoil in the Marysville School District as students made strong statements on two campuses.
As many as 60 Marysville Middle School students walked out of class Tuesday to protest their strike-shortened summer.
At Marysville-Pilchuck High School, staff arrived to find a confederate flag painted on the forum, a concrete area near the front of the campus where students hang out.
The confederate flag has sparked controversy in communities across the country in recent years. What some people see as a historic symbol of Southern heritage, others view as a racist insult aimed at intimidation.
At Marysville Middle School, principal Pete Lundberg said up to 60 students left their classes during first period. With each ensuing period, the number dwindled. By third period, only about 10 students remained out of class, he said.
“Basically, by that time, it all had calmed down,” Lundberg said. “There was no more insurrection.”
Lundberg said the students have been told that if they want to go on strike, they can do so at home with their parents.
Students also were circulating a petition protesting the strike-shortened summer.
Marysville teachers staged the longest strike in state history last fall. As a result, the school board has extended the district calendar until July 19 to get in the state-required 180 days of instruction.
At Marysville-Pilchuck, the painted confederate flag was discovered around 6 a.m. and was removed by 6:45 a.m., said Judy Parker, a school district spokeswoman.
District staff is investigating.
“They are looking for the culprit,” Parker said. “They do expect to catch whoever did it and will take the appropriate disciplinary action.”
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