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Thought the halls of Peoria Unified School District Schools were empty last week for spring break, the district still managed to make the national spotlight.

The American Civil Liberties Union released a statement protesting the ban of a student’s armwear, and the district denies there is a ban at all.

The ACLU claims a gay 14-year-old student at Parkridge Elementary School, 9970 W. Beardsley Road, was told by principal David Svorinic to turn his rainbow wristband that read "Rainbows are Gay" inside-out or stop wearing it to school.

The boy’s mother contacted the organization and the ACLU sent a letter March 17 to the district, demanding they lift the ban.

"When I asked my son’s principal why he wouldn’t be allowed to wear his wristband to school anymore, he said some teachers found it offensive," stated the boy’s mother, Natali Quintanilla, in ACLU’s release. "My son is honest and happy about who he is, and I love him and support his right to be himself. There are a lot of things teachers should be more concerned about than one little wristband — like educating our children."

District officials said the boy was not banned from wearing the band.

"This is not correct. The wristband in question was not banned by any PUSD employee," stated PUSD spokeswoman Bonnie Apperson. "The student, to date, continues to wear the wristband on campus, and has not been directed otherwise, nor has the student been reprimanded or punished as a result of his choice to wear the wristband."

As of March 19, district officials were unaware of the ACLU’s statement.

"To date, PUSD is not in receipt of any correspondence from the ACLU," Ms. Apperson stated.

According to Alessandra Soler Meetze, Executive Director ACLU Arizona, a postage mail letter was sent March 17, along with a fax, to both Mr. Svornic and District Superintendent Denton Santarelli, Ed.D.

"We would not have sent out the press release unless we were sure they had received the letter," Ms. Meetze said.

In the letter, PUSD was given 10 days to respond, but the letter was sent during spring break.

District officials said school principals were not working during break, and district administration staffing was light during the week, so getting a response last week would have been difficult.

Ms. Meetze said the national ACLU office was unaware of the spring break schedule when it sent the letter.

"We are looking to resolve this informally, so if they are looking for additional time, we are willing to work with that," Ms. Meetze said.

When contacted by the Independent, district officials were unaware of the ACLU statement.

"A copy of the communication was forwarded to PUSD (by the Independent)," Ms. Apperson stated. "Upon review, a posting linked to the ACLU Foundation Home Page misrepresented the facts when it stated that PUSD school officials did not allow a student to wear a rainbow wristband at school."

A copy of ACLU’s statement, along with the letter sent to Dr. Santarelli, can be found at http://www.aclu.org/lgbt/youth/.

Ms. Meetze said she hopes the district responds well to ACLU’s letter.

"When we send a demand letter, the second step is litigation, but we obviously don’t want it to come to that. We just want him to be able to wear his wrist band," Ms. Meetze said. "If he was banned because teachers were offended, it’s an overreaction on the part of the school. It’s letting bias dictate how students express themselves." In its statement, ACLU officials said they have won similar cases in the past.

"The ACLU has won dozens of cases over the years where schools have tried to get away with illegal censorship," stated Elizabeth Gill, staff attorney for the ACLU national Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Project. "A handful of teachers supposedly working themselves into a tizzy over one little wristband is hardly an excuse for violating Chris Quintanilla’s right to free speech."

Dan Pochoda, Legal Director of ACLU Arizona, agreed.

"When schools censor students like this, they are failing one of the most important civics lessons there is," Mr. Pochoda stated. "Schools should respect the Constitution and encourage all students — lesbian, gay, bisexual, and straight — to appreciate and exercise their freedoms, rather than illegally trying to silence them."

District officials argue they also uphold students’ rights for free speech.

"The Peoria Unified School District protects student rights, ensures free expression and guarantees students will be safe from harassment, as prescribed by federal and state guidance," Ms. Apperson stated. "PUSD provides students the choice to wear or otherwise display messages or symbols as long as they do not interfere with the educational process."