Deering High Students Skip Classes in Protest Over Polling Site

Dozens of students at Deering High School in Portland stayed home on Tuesday, November 3, in a walkout protesting the school's role as an Election Day polling place. The absence from classrooms followed the district's decision to deny a student request for a virtual school day.

The protest was organized in response to lingering anxieties about school security during voting events. Students cited the 2024 Election Day lockdown caused by hoax shooting threats as a primary reason for their nervousness. Many families at Deering are immigrants, and students also expressed worry about the presence of immigration enforcement officers and federal poll watchers.

Wyatt Clegg, a sophomore and reporter for the student newspaper The Deering Clocktower, said he saw noticeably fewer students in hallways and classrooms on Tuesday. Clegg noted that the current political climate made students uneasy about having voting activities take place within their building. He described the added security presence as making the school day more stressful.

Superintendent Ryan Scallon said staff and students submitted a petition for a virtual day late last week. After consulting with the city clerk, the Secretary of State, and local police, the district concluded there was little risk to operations. Scallon stated that a move to a fully virtual format requires evidence of a specific threat, noting that school is often the safest environment for students who rely on on-site meals and support.

The polling station is located in the gymnasium at the rear of the school, a self-contained area separate from general student spaces. Extra staff were present on Tuesday to assist with operations. Stephanie Englinton, a polling station warden, described the day as smooth and positive as of 2 p.m. More than 900 people had cast ballots at that time.

Department of Justice poll watchers visited the Deering site early in the morning without conflict. They also visited the other two Portland Public Schools polling locations, Reiche Elementary and East End Elementary. Aris Ayala Cruz, the Deering principal, told The Clocktower that the school could better prepare for future elections. He suggested the city and district explore alternative voting locations.