Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 7, 1994 TAG: 9404070071
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
PTA leaders favor the expulsion of students who bring guns and drugs to school.
"There is no question that this has the complete support of the PTA," said Kathryn Glassbrenner, a vice president of the Patrick Henry High School PTA.
"We wanted no second chance for those who bring guns to schools and [Harris] has responded appropriately," Glassbrenner said Wednesday.
Under the new student conduct code, Harris and school officials will automatically recommend expulsion for the possession of guns or drugs on school property. The School Board makes the final decision.
"We are firmly behind the guidelines and we favor them," said Marsha Ellison, president of the Central Council PTA.
"I think it is up to parents to make sure their children do not become a [discipline problem]," she said.
Ellison said PTA leaders met with school officials when the new standards and expectations code for students was being drafted.
Libby Camper, president of the Woodrow Wilson Middle School PTA, said she likes Harris' request for parents to sign a pledge affirming their support for the new conduct policy and the penalties.
"Everybody is going to be put on notice of what the rules are and everybody will be treated the same," Camper said.
Students began returning the signed pledges Wednesday, the first day after students returned from spring break.
At Addison Aerospace Magnet Middle School, nearly 50 percent of the parents returned their pledges Wednesday.
"We are hoping to get 100 percent," said Addison Principal Beverly Burks.
Officials at other schools said students were returning the pledges, but they did not have an immediate count on the number.
Dawn Spaulding, a co-president of the Breckinridge Middle School, supports the new code and the parental pledges. But she questions whether they will be effective.
"The parents who will return the pledge are the ones whose children won't get into trouble," Spaulding said.
Parents cannot be forced to sign the pledge, but school officials hope that most will do so to show their support for the code.
Three students have been expelled by the School Board in the past two months - two for bringing guns to school and a third for having a knife on school property.
Under the new policy, students who sexually harass others also can be kicked out of school.
The policy defines sexual harassment and includes examples of prohibited acts such as grabbing or touching someone, making sexual threats and suggestions, spreading rumors of a sexual nature and making sexual jokes.
The new code also prohibits cursing, vandalism, lying, cheating and plagiarism.
by CNB