The WW-P School District released an encouraging 10-page report on violence and vandalism in its schools, but it is determined not to rest on these laurels. While the total number of incidents is down slightly from the previous year, the district held a public forum on the topic on Tuesday, October 24, to discuss ways in which it will try to eliminate the problem.
Ellen Walsh, school board member and chair of the Administration of Facilites committee, says the presentation was the beginning of a discussion that could lead to changes in policy and punishment concerning violence and vandalism. Walsh says the statistics show promise. “We’d like to see more of an improvement. We’re not having violence like other schools are having.”
Walsh says the district is considering expanding the athletic code of conduct, which says any student who engages in alcohol use, drug abuse, smoking, or violence is no longer allowed to participate in sports. She said it may eventually apply to all students. She says the district would also like to explore alternatives to suspension.
“If a student cuts class, and then you suspend them from school, what message is that sending?” said Walsh. “We’re looking into some alternatives that other districts use, like making students perform services like painting walls as part of their suspension.”
There were 19 counts of violence in schools in the 2005-’06 school year, down from 30 a year before. Those incidents included two violent criminal offenses, the same number as had been reported in 2004-’05. Of the 19 incidents of violence, seven were against a member of school personnel, and six were against students with disabilities. Six more were against regular education students.
There were also 19 counts of vandalism, up from 16 last year. Only 2 of the counts are reported to have involved cost to the district, at a total of $216. None of last year’s counts are said to have cost the district money.
There was also a rise in the number of weapons found on students, from three to five, and the number of students caught for substance abuse, from 19 to 21.
With regards to discipline for offenders, 79 students were suspended for cases of violence and vandalism last year as opposed to 86 the year before. However, the district removed five students from regular classes to alternative programs in 2005-’06, as opposed to one in the previous year.
Eighteen of the students suspended in 2005-’06 have disabilities, and 60 are regular education students.
The district’s measures to prevent violence and vandalism by students start in kindergarten through third grade. In grades four and five, teachers are conducting classroom group discussions regarding anti-violence and building a safe community. In middle school, classes include developmental guidance groups to cover topics such as stress management, bullying, and organization.
At the high school level, the district is holding meetings with Student Council and the Parent Teacher Student Association on school violence prevention and the role of these two leadership groups.
