Clark Fork Protest Is Over Principal

Two dozen Clark Fork High School students waved signs at passers-by in downtown Clark Fork on Thursday morning.

“Discrimination in our school,” read one sign.

“Honk if you want change!” shouted another.

Every few cars or trucks that rumbled by would honk, or their drivers would wave, and the protesters would jump up and down with glee.

The students skipped class to protest their principal, who they characterize as a fickle disciplinarian, one who lets athletes and “preppie” kids off easy and throws other kids in detention for licking lollipops.

“He’s stressing out a lot of the staff and students,” said Eugene Haller, a junior.

Some parents, too.

Parent Mary Johnson asked the school board Tuesday evening to do something about the high school administration, led by principal Patrick Valliant. About 140 students attend the school, but critics claim that dozens have dropped out this year.

Johnson’s main concern is the inequities in the discipline that Valliant delivers.

“When he disciplines children for the exact same violation, one will go to court, the whole works,” she said. “The other will get a three-day in-house suspension.”

Valliant said the discipline is the same in that it’s handled differently in every individual case.

“Not every circumstance is the same,” said Valliant, who became the principal two years ago. “Therefore, we don’t always treat them with the same kind of consequence.”

The protesting students also don’t like the school’s 90 percent attendance policy, which makes no distinction between excused and unexcused absences for the first nine days missed, they said.

The policy, which used to be statewide, is a districtwide policy, but Superintendent Roy Rummler said the district will be reexamining it.

“I have some concerns about it,” Rummler said.

Patrons spoke both for and against the methods of the high school administrators at Tuesday’s school board meeting, Rummler said. The board decided to appoint a committee to examine the issues and suggest solutions.

“That process was not moving quickly enough for them,” Valliant said of the student protesters. Those students are facing yet-to-be determined consequences for their walkout, he added.