Hundreds of New Trier High School parents, school district residents and others packed the school's Cornog Auditorium Monday night for a school board meeting where the main topic of discussion was expected to be New Trier's upcoming seminar day on racial civil rights.

People began filing into the Northfield campus auditorium an hour and a half before the meeting, with supporters of the seminar day appearing to outnumber opponents.

The seminar day, set to take place Feb. 28 at both the Winnetka and Northfield campuses of the predominantly white school, has roused opposition from parents and residents who say it lacks conservative voices. But supporters say the schedule of speakers and workshops will help students make up their own minds in a balanced manner on a crucial American social issue.

New Trier Township High School District 203 officials moved the board's regular February meeting into the auditorium in anticipation of a large audience, opening the doors at 6 p.m., well before the 7:30 p.m. open portion of the meeting. By 6:55 p.m., the 700-seat auditorium was almost full.

Julie Hanahan of Wilmette, whose children attend elementary schools in the district, said she supported the seminar day.

"I just think it's ridiculous that outside forces are coming in and telling us how to do things," Hanahan said. "I'm sure there are people from this district that oppose (the seminar day), but I think the motor driving this is from outside."

Opponent Mark McCuaig of Skokie said he thought the seminar day should include more diverse voices.

"I don't like what's going on," he said. "It's indoctrination from the left."

New Trier High School Kathy Routliffe / Pioneer Press The Cornog Auditorium at New Trier High School's Northfield campus can seat 700, according to New Trier officials. It was full, with standing room only, by 7:15 p.m. on Feb. 20, when the school board was expected to discuss New Trier's upcoming seminar day on civil rights. The Cornog Auditorium at New Trier High School's Northfield campus can seat 700, according to New Trier officials. It was full, with standing room only, by 7:15 p.m. on Feb. 20, when the school board was expected to discuss New Trier's upcoming seminar day on civil rights. (Kathy Routliffe / Pioneer Press)

A statement from the district issued before the meeting said it is "confident" the seminar day – which includes keynote speeches and more than 100 workshops, two of which each student will attend – would examine issues from multiple perspectives and provide a positive experience for students.

Opponents, organized under the name "Parents of New Trier," started an online petition in January, asking the district to either add conservative speakers or cancel the seminar day until that could be done. They made the same request at the school board's January meeting.

Wilmette resident Betsy Hart, who helped organize the seminar opponents, said earlier this month that the petition had several hundred signatures. On Monday, the "Parents of New Trier" website also featured a second petition, asking that students be excused without repercussions on the seminar day if they had their parents' approval to do so.

District administrators stood firm earlier this month after meeting with two opponents of the seminar day, saying there was no time to add speakers to the schedule, and insisting that the workshops and presentations provide plenty of opportunity for students to discuss all sides of racial civil rights questions.

New Trier defends planned civil rights program despite parents' criticism of liberal bias Kathy Routliffe

New Trier Township High School District 203 has rejected calls to change or postpone a planned civil rights seminar day later this month, saying it's too late to adjust the schedule, despite claims by some parents that the event is liberally biased and lacks conservative voices.

District officials...

New Trier Township High School District 203 has rejected calls to change or postpone a planned civil rights seminar day later this month, saying it's too late to adjust the schedule, despite claims by some parents that the event is liberally biased and lacks conservative voices.

District officials...

(Kathy Routliffe)

Hart said before the meeting that her group put up the second petition after that meeting.

An online petition backing the day had more than 5,400 signatures just hours before the board's meeting.

"We recognize these conversations may not be easy, but they are important," it said.

kroutliffe@pioneerlocal.com

Twitter: @pioneer_kathy

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