
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 30, 1994                   TAG: 9403300145
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LISSY K. RUNYON
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

LEARNING IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT

FOR 180 days of the year, the Roanoke city school system is responsible for educating 12,780 students in an environment that's safe and promotes learning. The school system's proud that all of our schools provide a safe learning environment and of the pro-active stance it takes in securing the safety, rights and privileges of all.

It's important to us that parents, students and the community recognize our commitment in these areas. Our concern for the students' safety and welfare extends beyond the school and into the community. For example, a procedure's in place prohibiting door-to-door fund-raising activities by elementary children.

Other examples of our commitment to safety are numerous. School-bus aides ride elementary buses daily to provide an extra set of eyes and ears to ensure the safe transport of 6,600 students. School-resource officers are included as part of the support staff at all 29 schools. They play special roles as conflict mediators, DARE instructors, advisers and safety monitors.

Our students are recognized for appropriate behavior and good citizenship. Inappropriate behavior that affects others and compromises the learning climate isn't tolerated. The development of the ``Standards and Expectations for Student Behavior'' booklet validates the importance of this philosophy. This document is being distributed to all secondary students and their parents or guardians. The guidance curriculum includes instruction in peer mediation, substance-abuse prevention, telephone safety, dealing with strangers and ``Fighting Fair,'' a conflict-resolution program. Student support teams use school and community resources to solve individual student problems. The high schools' security staff supervises parking-lot areas to safeguard students' cars and monitor trespassing by unauthorized individuals. The fact that 94 percent of the student population attends school every day underscores the success of these interventions.

For the joy of learning to take place, the school community must be safe. The rights of the majority will not be compromised by the inappropriate actions of a few. The city schools will continue in word and action to uphold this belief.

Lissy K. Runyon is public-information officer for Roanoke city public schools.

by CNB