The Kennewick School Board voted 3-1 tonight to restore access for noncurricular clubs to school newspapers, public address systems, yearbooks and ASB accounts, but not paid advisers.

Board member Kathleen White voted no.

The board on Aug. 18 had approved the controversial policy, which keeps noncurricular student clubs from using school yearbooks, newspapers and the public address system to let students know about club activities.

The policy also kept noncurricular clubs from having paid advisers or access to Associated Student Body accounts.

Since last fall, the school board had discussed how to better provide for gay-straight alliances in Kennewick schools. Such student clubs seek to provide safety from harassment or bullying at school to gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender youth.

The district had been in violation of federal law by granting different levels of access to school facilities to various student clubs.

The new policy brought the district in line with federal rules — by limiting all noncurricular clubs equally.

The decision took away privileges from student clubs who organize volunteer food drives and help disabled children at school, for example.

Students showed their disagreement with the decision through a silent protest at the Sept. 14 school board meeting. About 30 members of different student clubs — Key Club, Buddy Club, National Honor Society and the gay-straight alliance — from Kennewick high schools attended wearing small paper stars.