Wawasee Offers Alternatives To Suspension/Expulsion
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
NORTH WEBSTER - Despite all the school corporation's attempts, Wawasee students still are being suspended or expelled.
Wawasee schools superintendent Dr. Mark Stock said the school corporation offers an alternative learning school, credit retrieval, GED program, behavioral plans, English as a Second Language, gifted and talented program, homebound instruction, allows for students to retake classes, remedial programs and many other programs. Still, students are having problems.
But with a new program - the Alternative to Suspension/Expulsion Program - Wawasee assistant superintendent Russ Mikel and Wendy Hite, Wawasee special education services supervisor, hope to keep students in school.
Mikel said when students are expelled, they treat it like a vacation and parents don't know what to do with their children. He then presented the board with statistical information.
In fall 2003, at the middle and high schools, three WMS and four WHS students were expelled until the end of the school year. Six WMS and eight WHS students were expelled until the end of the first trimester. Only three WHS students were expelled to the end of the second trimester, but 18 WMS and six WHS students were suspended out of school for three to five days. Three WMS and four WHS students were suspended out of school for six to 10 days.
Broken down by month, August and September saw 11 WMS students suspended or expelled, while only one WHS student was expelled/suspended in August and four in September.
In the fall semester of 2003, there were no Wawasee elementary students expelled or suspended.
During the 2002-03 school year, WHS had 103 suspensions with 138 in 2001-02, 102 in 2000-01 and 147 in 1999-00. For expulsions, there were 24 in 2002-03, 28 in 2001-02, 24 in 2000-01 and 44 in 1999-00.
At WMS, there were 86 suspensions in 2002-03, 189 in 2001-02, 69 in 2000-01 and 80 in 1999-00. WMS expulsions included 20 in 2002-03; 18 in 2001-02; 11 in 2000-01; and 13 in 1999-00.
Hite said the new program would have five goals.
The first is to expand the "least restrictive" options for students under suspension or expulsion.
The second is for students to work toward mastery of state standards. When a student is suspended, they are not being exposed to the curriculum. And once they return, they have lost ground that is hard to make up.
The third goal is to identify and address the mental health and/or social skill needs of students as some students are repeat offenders and the schools may be missing the "whys."
Fourth is to promote positive parent involvement. "We can't do this alone," said Hite.
The last goal is to develop and build community support systems for students.
Hite said the ASE program will be under the Wawasee Academy umbrella of services. Students on one or more days of suspension from school or who are recommended for expulsion qualify for the program as do students expelled under a Form 16 or Case Conference.
Time frame for the daily program would be 8 a.m. to noon and a parent will be required to provide transportation unless a case conference specifies differently. Parents will be required to attend an "exit interview" conducted by the school prior to the student returning to the home school.
Possible funding for the program would come from grants, cost-sharing and partnerships.
The targeted age groups for the program are students in grades six through eight who are under suspension or expulsion. Students in grades four or five may be considered for the program based on the individual situation and approval of the superintendent.
Hite said by age 15, personalities are usually crystallized and they want to reach the children before then.
According to Hite, research supports that 80 to 90 percent of students are without serious problems. Five to 15 percent of students are at risk for problem behaviors and schools should have specialized group interventions to address the needs of these students. Chronic and severe behavior problems represent 1 to 7 percent of the school population that requires specialized interventions.
Mikel said they are still working on the details of the ASE program. Stock said more discussion is needed but it will be brought back before the board for the board's approval.
After board secretary Marion Acton asked where the ASE program will be located, Stock said they are thinking about having it in another portable section next to Wawasee Academy, creating a mini-alternative learning campus.
"All the services would be in one spot," Stock said. Cost for such a building would be approximately $80,000. [[In-content Ad]]
NORTH WEBSTER - Despite all the school corporation's attempts, Wawasee students still are being suspended or expelled.
Wawasee schools superintendent Dr. Mark Stock said the school corporation offers an alternative learning school, credit retrieval, GED program, behavioral plans, English as a Second Language, gifted and talented program, homebound instruction, allows for students to retake classes, remedial programs and many other programs. Still, students are having problems.
But with a new program - the Alternative to Suspension/Expulsion Program - Wawasee assistant superintendent Russ Mikel and Wendy Hite, Wawasee special education services supervisor, hope to keep students in school.
Mikel said when students are expelled, they treat it like a vacation and parents don't know what to do with their children. He then presented the board with statistical information.
In fall 2003, at the middle and high schools, three WMS and four WHS students were expelled until the end of the school year. Six WMS and eight WHS students were expelled until the end of the first trimester. Only three WHS students were expelled to the end of the second trimester, but 18 WMS and six WHS students were suspended out of school for three to five days. Three WMS and four WHS students were suspended out of school for six to 10 days.
Broken down by month, August and September saw 11 WMS students suspended or expelled, while only one WHS student was expelled/suspended in August and four in September.
In the fall semester of 2003, there were no Wawasee elementary students expelled or suspended.
During the 2002-03 school year, WHS had 103 suspensions with 138 in 2001-02, 102 in 2000-01 and 147 in 1999-00. For expulsions, there were 24 in 2002-03, 28 in 2001-02, 24 in 2000-01 and 44 in 1999-00.
At WMS, there were 86 suspensions in 2002-03, 189 in 2001-02, 69 in 2000-01 and 80 in 1999-00. WMS expulsions included 20 in 2002-03; 18 in 2001-02; 11 in 2000-01; and 13 in 1999-00.
Hite said the new program would have five goals.
The first is to expand the "least restrictive" options for students under suspension or expulsion.
The second is for students to work toward mastery of state standards. When a student is suspended, they are not being exposed to the curriculum. And once they return, they have lost ground that is hard to make up.
The third goal is to identify and address the mental health and/or social skill needs of students as some students are repeat offenders and the schools may be missing the "whys."
Fourth is to promote positive parent involvement. "We can't do this alone," said Hite.
The last goal is to develop and build community support systems for students.
Hite said the ASE program will be under the Wawasee Academy umbrella of services. Students on one or more days of suspension from school or who are recommended for expulsion qualify for the program as do students expelled under a Form 16 or Case Conference.
Time frame for the daily program would be 8 a.m. to noon and a parent will be required to provide transportation unless a case conference specifies differently. Parents will be required to attend an "exit interview" conducted by the school prior to the student returning to the home school.
Possible funding for the program would come from grants, cost-sharing and partnerships.
The targeted age groups for the program are students in grades six through eight who are under suspension or expulsion. Students in grades four or five may be considered for the program based on the individual situation and approval of the superintendent.
Hite said by age 15, personalities are usually crystallized and they want to reach the children before then.
According to Hite, research supports that 80 to 90 percent of students are without serious problems. Five to 15 percent of students are at risk for problem behaviors and schools should have specialized group interventions to address the needs of these students. Chronic and severe behavior problems represent 1 to 7 percent of the school population that requires specialized interventions.
Mikel said they are still working on the details of the ASE program. Stock said more discussion is needed but it will be brought back before the board for the board's approval.
After board secretary Marion Acton asked where the ASE program will be located, Stock said they are thinking about having it in another portable section next to Wawasee Academy, creating a mini-alternative learning campus.
"All the services would be in one spot," Stock said. Cost for such a building would be approximately $80,000. [[In-content Ad]]