Cyndi Loza

Esmeralda County school officials rescinded a policy barring Spanish speaking on school buses on Thursday.

Superintendent Robert Aumaugher sent a letter to the parents in the town of Dyer that stated “there is no general rule prohibiting Spanish on any of our buses.”

Lee Rowland, northern coordinator for the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, said the organization has worked with the district to change the policy that prohibited Spanish speaking by about 30 students during the 90-minute bus ride from Dyer and from Tonopah High School in Nye County.

“We’re thrilled that the ban has been lifted, and we commend the school district for recognizing the students First Amendment right to speak in whatever language they choose, so long as they’re not disrupting the academic process,” Rowland said.

‘Respect, order’

In an Oct. 12 letter to parents in Dyer, near the California border in Southern Nevada, Aumaugher said the ban enables bus drivers who do not speak Spanish control Spanish-speaking students.

“We’re trying to maintain order and respect on the bus,” Aumaugher said.

Aumaugher said students must study for at least 45 minutes on the bus ride but “after that, we don’t care what they do, as long as they follow the rules.”

“You can speak anything you want to on the bus as far as language,” Aumaugher said. “This formalizes it so there is absolutely no confusion. Frankly, it’s a continuation of our past practices on the bus.”

Rowland said the district sent a powerful message to their students.

“While the school district may believe that it won’t change in the way of policy, we actually believe this is a very important message to send to students about their rights,” Rowland said.