DATE: Tuesday, November 25, 1997            TAG: 9711250590

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY KIA MORGAN ALLEN AND ELIZABETH SIMPSON, STAFF WRITERS 

DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH                        LENGTH:   84 lines

``THE FOOLISHNESS IS OVER'' WITH A BATHROOM FIRE TO WELCOME HER, WILSON HIGH'S NEW ACTING PRINCIPAL TAKES GET-TOUGH ATTITUDE IN BID TO OVERCOME SCHOOL'S PROBLEMS.

Principal Rosa Wells-Garris laid down the law on her first day at the helm of the beleaguered Woodrow Wilson High School on Monday, telling students that the foolishness was over, and that they should return to the business of learning.

``I respect the fact that many of you are disappointed,'' Wells-Garris said in a 20-minute address to students. ``I didn't ask for this assignment but I accept it reluctantly, because I believe in you.''

It was a no-nonsense beginning to an assignment that could prove to be a challenging one for Wells-Garris. Tensions have run high at the school since an Oct. 14 melee sent 22 students to the school nurse and three pregnant teens to the hospital for checkups.

Actions taken in response to the brawl have done little to put the incident to rest.

When police charges were filed against students believed to have contributed to the fight, some witnesses refused to testify, others gave conflicting testimony, and the charges were dropped or withdrawn. The former principal - William E. Gibson Jr. - was reassigned, but a student protest created more turbulence Friday. And by the time Wells-Garris began addressing students at 7:45 a.m., a fire had started - and been extinguished - in the girls' bathroom.

Wells-Garris admonished students about the fire during her address. A handful laughed and made derisive comments.

``It's a sad commentary that we find joy out of that kind of disaster,'' Wells-Garris said. ``This is not a threat but a fact: We are not going to tolerate that kind of behavior.''

She then proceeded to lay down the law:

Students are to arrive to class on time, and to expect the school's attendance policy to be strongly enforced.

Boys are to wear pants pulled up, with the belt buckled. ``I don't want to see your dirty shorts,'' she said.

Girls are to dress appropriately, in clothing that does not distract other students.

No head gear, whether it be caps or head bands, is to be worn.

The day proceeded smoothly, despite Friday rumors that students would make trouble again to protest Gibson's reassignment.

Wells-Garris advised students with such intentions in mind to take time to cool down. ``You have had a good time with the press,'' she said. ``But I'm not sure the majority of you are pleased with the negative image that is projected throughout our city and state.''

Student reaction to Wells-Garris was mixed.

Courtney Rhodes, a senior, was a freshman when Wells-Garris served as assistant principal at Wilson. She said even then the principal pulled no punches.

``She was very firm and didn't let kids push her around. You had respect for her because you knew if you got in trouble you were gonna get in trouble.''

Rhodes said Wells-Garris was willing to hear students' suggestions and opinions, and had a strong presence in the school.

Another student, Jessica Stypulkoski, doesn't think Wells-Garris will make a big difference.

``I feel that bringing her in is not going to solve the problem. She's from a middle school and she hasn't dealt with this situation before,'' Stypulkoski said.``The students want attention, and they want to start something. It has nothing to do with the administrator. I don't think she'll be able to deal with it.''

Ninth-grader Ralph Martin said he already noticed a difference at school. During his in-school suspension, students were required to do school work Monday. ``We used to just sit there,'' he said.

Ellen Gregg, the parent of a 15-year-old daughter who attends Wilson, worries that the changes are merely cosmetic.

``If Mr. Gibson can't control the students, how can Mrs. Garris?'' she asked.

The real problem, Gregg said, is that the school district has tried to meld so many students - 1,500 - from so many different neighborhoods into one school. ``If you respect kids, they will respect you,'' she said. ``They didn't respect the kids. What they really need is another school. They should take half the kids and send them somewhere else.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

VICKI CRONIS/The Virginian-Pilot

Some students say Rosa Wells-Garris will be good for the school.

Others say she won't make a difference. KEYWORDS: SCHOOL DISCIPLINE

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu