I was at a local gas station over the weekend and over heard a daughter talking to her mother about fights that happened after the Richwoods vs. Notre Dame game. Her mother seemed surprised, and said she hadn't heard anything on the news about it, the daughter told her "as if people would actually fight on school property".At last night's BOE meeting at Harrison School, a mother from Peoria High spoke of hundreds of students congregating on Bigelow; 200 kids in her front yard loitering and as a result, it took police officers four (4) minutes to get to her home.
Also at last night's BOE meeting at Harrison School, a father, who is a security expert and has a student at Richwoods, talked about the crowds and lack of security at Richwoods and his daughter not being safe; he begged the BOE to consider wands and said that from his professional opinion they absolutely need more security staff.
The concerns and comments from the Peoria High parent made the newspaper, however, the concerns and comments from the Richwoods parent did not. That's unusual, isn't it? Usually, the Richwoods parents have a rapt audience in the pjstar.
The new District 150 Chief of Security was at the meeting, but had no input on the issues that were raised. The allegations from the parents of large groups congregating, fights and/or lack of security was neither confirmed nor denied. I guess he was just there for security.
A parent asked for advice and/or comment from Carl Cannon, unfortunately, he had already left the building. He just stopped by briefly to show a short video (with music) of his fashion police stopping children at Peoria High School and Manual. Apparently he and his entourage had another meeting to rush off to.
11 comments:
I did have a conversation last night with the new security chief. He did tell me that there were two arrests as a result of the fights at the Peoria High vs Manual football game--the press didn't report that either. I do not know if those arrested were students and/or from what school.
Wolfmeyer stated last night that she took her own survey and was satisfied that things are going very well at Peoria High in the building.
However, I went to the hospital today for some tests and engaged in a conversation with a woman who has a freshman grandson at Peoria High. She had read the morning paper and now realizes that the stories her grandson has been telling her about what is happening in the building might be cause enough for her to show up at a board meeting.
The district compounded the problems by closing Woodruff. They just can't wash their hands of a problem that they created.
Yes, it's the parents' responsibility, etc., but being a good neighbor is, also, the responsibility of the schools. Mobs of kids destroying yards and scaring people is a concern for the district. Not to mention that innocent young people need to be protected from bullies, etc.
With regard to Richwoods, I spoke to a man at my 55th Woodruff reunion who says that there are always police after school at the Marathon station across from Richwoods because of problems with gangs of kids there. 150 has or should accept more responsibility for these problems.
Also, I am finding it hard to believe that 150 is not going to provide activity buses for all the young people who go to school so far from their homes (because a school was closed). I guess no one wants them to participate in after school activities--another reason that unrest will prevail at Peoria High.
I am surprised to hear that there were fights at the Richwoods/Notre Dame football game. We were there the entire game and didn't notice any misbehavior of any kind in the stands or parking lot. We didn't go for concessions, though--is that where the fight(s) occurred?
Off topic, but According to FOIA’d information from Quest Charter School, 59 students who won the lottery never showed up at the charter school. Two others entered Quest but have since left Quest.
So far 55 students have been chosen to replace the 59 no-shows.
As I recall, the stand-by list consisted of 30 from each grade for a total of 90. The Charter School data
states, “We have exhausted our initial waiting list from the lottery and will be holding a public meeting
to select the remaining names that applied for Quest Charter School but were not chosen.”
Therefore, another 35 students must have declined the “second” offer to go to the Quest school as replacements for the no-shows.
District 150 gave me a list of students that were originally chosen by lottery. I was given the number from each school and the breakdown of how many students from each grade. I compiled the numbers on a spread sheet. I let the computer add the total number—the computer came to a total of 202. Terry Knapp added the numbers and came to a total of 202. The District 150 FOIA officer added the numbers and got a total of 216. Now how much confidence should I have in the FOIA’d information? I hope they get the numbers right when they are figuring up how much per pupil money should go to Quest from District 150.
About the shoes your relative was wearing. At the board meeting, several of us questioned the rule about backless shoes and (why can't I think of the name of the shoes) that so many girls wear. I think that a dress code that includes types of shoes is defeating the purpose for which a dress code is needed in the first place. It's just overkill.
I'm still a bit disturbed, Emerge, that you seem to be questioning the verasity of the parent who spoke about fights in her front yard. Remember she, also, said she "rescued" one child who was being chased by many others. Do you really believe she made up those stories? She teaches at Adult Ed. Are you, also, making the assumption that she is a racial bigot?
Once Sean Matheson visited Manual. He stopped by to see me after school to say that he thought it had been a calm day. I told him that the worst fight I had ever witnessed had occurred in my room when a male student stripped to the waist and banged the head of a female student against the wall several times. Even the police can't be everywhere and once a fight breaks up and everyone disperses., it is difficult for the police to do much.
Anonymous:
The young lady I overheard talking appeared to be a member of the Richwoods Dance Team. The fight apparently took place wherever it is that Richwoods children congregate after the games.
Sharon:
I didn't say she made up the stories; nor did I say she was a bigot. Her complaint seemed very genuine and I don't doubt that when you live near a school and school is letting out that there will probably be some children/traffic that would make it difficult to get to your home.
If some random person had to rescue my child from a crowd of crazed children, I would have been at the BOE meeting to YELL about it.
Emerge, this is the sentence that made me think you doubted the parent who spoke (since only two people spoke about student behavior after school): "It bothered me to hear people speaking of children with such disdain and I couldn’t help but wonder if some of the complaints of large groups of scary children were racially motivated." I just didn't know how else to interpret this statement.
Also, I don't think anyone is implying that the misbehaving students are former Woodruff students. I don't think I heard anyone hint at blaming either former WHS or PHS students.
Sharon:
From what I have been able to glean about these "fights", it sounds like kids who have been couped up all day happy to be out of school and lollygagging on the way home.
My post is based upon what little information I have about the fights from various places and not just the BOE meeting, Sharon. You have seen the article/comments about this in the pjstar, right?
http://www.pjstar.com/news/x1319753342/Dismissal-concerns-arise
Let me rephrase, so that it is clear to you that I am not calling either of last night's speakers "bigots": "I am bothered to hear people speaking of children with such disdain and I can’t help but wonder if some of the complaints of large groups of scary children are racially motivated".
Thanks for your response. The Richwoods Dance Team didn't perform last Friday night at the Richwoods/Notre Dame game since it was an "away" game for Richwoods and at the Peoria Stadium. We gave a ride to one dance team member and I didn't hear anything about a fight. We entered and exited the "visitors" gate. Was there a Notre Dame fight? I'll ask the kids tomorrow. I did hear something about Birkenstocks (SP?) and the dress code when school started. I'm sorry to hear that any child who was appropriately dressed was singled out. Thank you for your input.
Emerge, thanks for clearing that up. Yes, the PJS bloggers frighten me. However, I can't quite put the positive spin on the after-school activities that you do--but some of these are probably just what you describe.
However, the lack of respect for people's property should be addressed. Years ago such things used to happen around Manual--neighbors would complain, etc., and administrators did talk to the kids--it was easier in those days to convince the kids that they were being disrespectful.
To believe that there are no fights, etc., is, also, naive--but maybe not the general rule. The more unusual and frightening, however, is the larger groups of kids running, hitting, whatever.
Remember the Gary Sandburg incident, then the group of parents who reported the problems, and then the parent Monday night. They can't be dismissed. I do believe that Dr. Lathan is taking the reports seriously--board members not as much.
Another aside, I am beginning to feel a much more relaxed mood at board meetings. Dr. Lathan is doing more to interact, etc. Certainly, there was no interaction with Ken HInton. Certainly, so far none of the problems in the district are of her making--I think these events about the kids after school have taken her by surprise and I think she is trying to deal with the situation.
This is horrible. Fights after school? This NEVER happened when i was a kid at Glen Oak and later Woodruff.
This is obvious evidence that these people who not know how to run a school district ...
Oh, wait. Now I remember. I happened all the time. Even though Harry Whitaker ran the joint. To hear people talk, he used to wear a cape.
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