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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Friday, November 14, 2008 6:31 AM EST
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
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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