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Violence Plagues Pontiac Schools

 

Pontiac schools, like Detroit and other area schools, continue to experience violence among their students.

 

This week Pontiac Central was locked down due a 10th grader with a pellet gun. Parents were upset about the issue and how it was handled. The 10th grader never threatened to use the gun, but school officials stated that it was necessary to lock the school down to keep the students safe.  

 

In addition, this week the Pontiac School Board approved the expulsion of five students kicked out of school for weapons and assault violations. They also approved new anti-bullying and dress code policies.  

 

In March, a teacher was also stabbed at Pontiac Northern High School by a 15 year old student. Click here for the video news story of that assault.

 

Why do these schools continue to struggle with these issues? We keep hearing about the Pontiac district implementing new behavior and dress codes, but none of it seems to work. Obviously it is a complicated issue, but it sure seems like the parents are not doing their jobs.

 

Thugs are taking over our schools. Adults should be in charge of the kids, and not vice versa.

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Pontiac district upholds expulsions of 5 students

Friday, November 14, 2008 6:31 AM EST

By DIANA DILLABER MURRAY
Of  The Oakland Press

The expulsion of five students kicked out of school for weapons and assault violations was upheld by trustees taking a tough stand to make schools safer.The Pontiac Board of Education approved the expulsions this week — the same night they approved new antibullying and dress code policies.

The five students were expelled after separate incidents involving a gun being brought to school or an assault. All were found guilty at hearings at their own school before parents appealed to the school board on their child’s behalf. Text messages were used as evidence in at least one case. Most of the boys and girls had previous behavioral problems. All expelled students will be excluded for at least 180 days.

Their appeals were heard privately by a board subcommittee before the full Board of Education vote this week. The subcommittee reviews appeals throughout the year, but five is an unusually large number to come to a vote at once, indicating more enforcement. Student names were not released because they are juveniles.

The violations were as follows:

• An alternative high school student found guilty of assaulting a staff member and gross disorderly conduct.

• A sixth-grader found guilty of possession of a BB gun and shooting a student at a bus stop. The student had only minor behavior problems in past.

• A middle school student found guilty of assaulting a staff member and slipping a gun through the metal detector. The student has had multiple behavior issues.

• A high school student found guilty of assault on a student, gross disorderly person, profanity, insubordination and continual disregard for school rules. He was among four youths who jumped another student after a previous altercation.

• A student, whose age and school were withheld, was found guilty of possession of a weapon.

Parents were referred to human service agencies to get help and encouraged to find other educational support while their child is not in school.


Trustee Robert Bass said students who exhibit inappropriate behavior should be given more resources to curb those behaviors before they grow and the problems grow with them. Board members are hoping the new anti-bullying policy will give more power to principals and public safety officers to enforce the code and penalize students or staff involved in violence or harassment against other students or staff. That will be included in the new student code book.
The revamped dress code is meant to create an environment where students focus on their school work and are not distracted by inappropriate clothing and accessories worn by themselves or other students.

Bass, chairman of the policy and bylaws subcommittee, said after a public hearing two weeks ago additions were made to the dress code. “Dresses and skirts can be no more than 2 inches above the knee,” Bass said, referring to a definition suggested at the public hearing. Bass also made clear that the hoods on the popular “hoodies” jackets are considered hats, which are banned in the policies. House shoes were added to the list of banned footwear. The bullying policy was passed with no modifications because there were no concerns voiced at the public hearing.

Bass said principals and teachers now have the responsibility of ensuring students are informed about the policy. Also on the subcommittee were trustees Karen Cain, Christopher Northcross and Alma-Bradley Pettress. But it is not only the students that are now under pressure to follow expected behavior. Bass, acting Superintendent Linda Paramore and board Vice President Gill Garrett all were adamant that employees are being held accountable as well.
“The gang population is growing,” said Bass, who wants more public authority officers hired and wants more administrative support of the officers in the schools. “They are not getting the support they need. The chief of security (Darryl Cosby) needs administrative support,” Bass said. “If the chief can’t effectively do his job, I have a problem with the program.”

“People are watching what we are doing,” said Garrett, not only locally but statewide and nationwide. “I’m not in favor of people losing their jobs, but if they are not doing their job, I don’t care. These are our kids.” “People who are worried about losing their jobs (when schools are closed) should have thought about that before,” Garrett said.

Paramore said the current restructuring of the district provides the opportunity to create quality educational programs that could be models for the nation. But she is disappointed by the lack of involvement by parents and some employees in the effort to improve schools. “I am appalled by the lack of accountability in this district,” Paramore said. “If we don’t take action, there won’t be a Pontiac school district. I am pleased right now to serve with a board that understands what has to be done.”

 

Tenth-grader with pellet gun prompts high school lockdown

Friday, November 14, 2008 8:53 AM EST

By KAREN WORKMAN
Of  The Oakland Press

A tenth-grader at Pontiac Central High School is facing district reprimands and possible criminal charges after being accused of bringing a semiautomatic pellet gun into the school Thursday.

"My daughter called and text messaged me and said they were on lockdown," said Chantay Milton, mother of a freshman attending the school. "So I called and was asking the secretary why and she said she couldn't tell me." Milton was so upset that she walked to the school in an attempt to remove her daughter and bring her home. "They won't give me my child," said a stressed Milton as she stood just feet from the school's doors. "It's her first time in Pontiac schools. My daughter is not used to that type of stuff."

Dozens of students milled around in the lobby of the school, separated from Milton and other parents and students by doors that opened only a couple inches.One student inside the school put her hands up to a window and mouthed, "Help me." She had just cracked the door open to say, "They won't let us out," but was moved away by a security guard.

"The school was on lockdown for a couple hours and it was a precautionary measure because a couple students alleged they saw another student with a weapon," said Georgette Johnson, the district's director of communications.

A student alerted school officers at 8:20 a.m. that a male student was seen with a firearm on the school grounds. The Pontiac Police Department sent additional officers to assist the school, which was put on lockdown from about 8:45 to 10:45 a.m., Johnson said.

"The word lockdown is such an ominous word, but it actually is just making sure no one is able to enter or exit who may put anyone in harm's way and keep everyone in the classroom," Johnson said. She was unsure why so many students were gathered in the school's lobby, where they cracked open the doors to talk with students standing outside. "(Security officers) might've been processing them at the time it all happened, figuring out where they were supposed to go and getting them to that place," Johnson said.

The sophomore accused of bringing the pellet gun to school was located but no weapon was found on him or in his locker. He told officers the gun was in a different locker and they retrieved it. "The student never threatened or used the pellet gun. The student was taken to the Pontiac Police Department where he was released to a family member," said a press release from the department.

No criminal charges were filed against him but a petition will be submitted to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office for possible charges. Bringing the pellet gun on school grounds is a violation of district policy and he will be disciplined according to policy. "Probably a suspension -- I don't know for how long, but we have set policies and it will be for whatever the level of violation it is," Johnson said.

For student Victor Zarco, arriving at the high school Thursday had a touch of irony. He was there to pick up his transcripts so he can start attending the Avondale Academy. But because of the lockdown, he couldn't enter the building to get them. "I'm trying to get out of this school," said Victor, who was walking away from the building with his father. "It's just bad; everything."

Milton pulled her daughter out of school for the rest of the day and said she plans to start looking for other schools her daughter can attend. "It wasn't appropriate," Milton said. "I feel they should've called all the kids' parents and let them know what was going on."

Classes remained in session until the end of the scheduled school day after the lockdown was lifted.

"I do understand the parents' concerns. I know sometimes they feel that, 'I want to go up there and get my child,' but sometimes this is the best thing to make sure they are safe where they are," Johnson said. She added, "When there is this mass hysteria, it really shines a bad light on the district and we are doing so many positive things. This is a distraction, to say the least."

 

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