Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 5, 1994 TAG: 9405050169
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The School Board expelled four more students this week, bringing to eight the number thrown out in the last four months.
School Superintendent Wayne Harris, who recommended the expulsions, said he is sad that children have been expelled. But he said he is committed to keeping schools safe. Having eight expulsions is not unusual for an urban school system the size of Roanoke's, he said.
"Eight is too many - even one is too many - but we are not out of line with comparable school systems,'' Harris said.
The four most recent cases involved possession of a knife and a razor blade, possession and discharge of a pellet gun, distribution of marijuana and possession of a knife.
Harris said Roanoke schools remain safe despite the expulsions, which are intended to help ensure that the schools remain weapon- and drug-free.
"We are fortunate that we've had no serious incidents. We hope we have turned the corner on this," Harris said.
School administrators have refused to identify the students or the schools they attended. They have used student identification numbers for the School Board's votes. All discussions of the cases have been in closed sessions.
Harris said the weapons and drugs reflect the national trend in schools and a new generation of students.
"Students used to resort to fisticuffs ..." he said. "Now some bring weapons."
Harris said he hopes the expulsions will show students that school officials and the School Board are serious about prohibiting weapons and disciplining those who break the rules.
The superintendent has focused attention on student behavior and a conduct code that has tough penalties for violations.
Harris has asked the parents of middle school and high school students to sign a pledge saying they understand the conduct code and will assume responsibility for making sure their children obey the rules.
School officials said they have not tabulated the number of parents who have signed the pledge, but they are pleased with the response.
In recent weeks, school assemblies have been held to explain the updated behavior code to students.
The School Board has unanimously supported Harris' strong stand on weapons, drugs and disruptive behavior.
Wendy O'Neil, board vice chairman, said the expulsion cases are difficult and emotionally draining because each is unique.
"It is painful to expel anyone, but the problems are not unique to Roanoke. We have a responsibility to remove students who are a threat to others."
O'Neil said she strongly supports the expulsion of students who bring weapons and drugs to school, but she still worries about what will happen to them.
"We have addressed the symptom," she said. "We have taken them out of school, but we have not addressed the larger community problem."
O'Neil said school administrators alone can't solve the underlying problems that cause children to take weapons and drugs to school. "We need the support of parents, community agencies and others to address these issues. Ignoring the problem won't solve it - it will just get worse.''
O'Neil said she has no ready solution, and she's not proposing that the city appoint another task force to address the problem.
But she suggested that the city's Office on Youth might help, and meetings might be held in various parts of the city to seek stronger support from parents.
"If we don't do something now, the expense to the community will increase with higher social service costs and expenses for other services,'' she said.
O'Neil said the community must not adopt an attitude that students who break rules are disposable.
"Our children are not disposable, and we won't let them think that," she said. "It is the entire community's problem."
by CNB