Security cameras help spot discipline problems at THS

By DEB WUETHRICH

Security cameras in the schools are proving to be an asset in assisting Tecumseh High School (THS) and Tecumseh Middle School (TMS) personnel in addressing disciplinary issues. The district’s Board of Education trustees heard annual reports detailing incidents of student conduct from THS assistant principal Dennis Niles and TMS assistant principal James Gilmore on Monday night with each citing statistics for various types of disciplinary activities.
Both administrators noted that there is less physical fighting in the schools — but reports of verbal intimidation through rude and abusive behavior continue. Niles said it is an area in which staff is paying particular attention.
“We’re trying to deal with bullying and will not tolerate it,” said Niles. He said, however, that security cameras on the premises sometimes help staff address an incident, such as one that caught an aggressor facing off with another student who was backing away in a stairwell. “It was hard for the student to deny it because it was right there on the camera,” Niles said. He said cameras also have proven useful in citing incidents of careless driving in the school parking lots.
Niles and THS Principal Robert Scheick said that failure by students to consistently wear student IDs is another area that is being regularly addressed, along with having unsecured lockers.
“You’d be surprised at the number of students who will just walk away, leaving them open,” said Niles. The school has been cracking down on the issue for some time, largely due to a number of complaints reported as thefts from lockers. Niles said the presence of THS staff member Dennis Morris walking the halls has cut down on some of those incidents, and Gilmore said having Albert Flores, who works security in the TMS halls also has been a benefit.
Discipline notices only are issued after three steps have been taken with a teacher-student conference, teacher-parent contact, and Guidance counselor referral. At THS Niles said that 208 students, or 19.8 percent of the total student population of 1,048, accounted for the total disciplinary actions for the first semester as compared with last year when 436 individuals or 40 percent accounted for the total discipline caseload.
“That means that 80 percent never step foot in the office for discipline and are out there following the rules and having no attendance issues,” said Niles.
Also at Monday night’s meeting, Tecumseh Acres Principal Carl Lewandowski presented an update on a School Yard Habitat Project, which has included planting trees, developing compost bins that children add food scraps to as they learn of the composting process, and the use of split tractor tires for a gardening project. Parts of the project are being made possible through fundraising, grants and volunteer labor.
“A lot of our projects include the reuse concept,” said Lewandowski, who said the landscaping would be designed to represent the four seasons. He said the project is an outdoor classroom through which students use math, science and social studies skills. Future projects include a solar energy pond, which would be no deeper than 30 inches, an orchard, a butterfly garden, and a native grasses project. Karen Gentry, of Hidden Lakes Gardens, has been involved with the process that Tecumseh Acres staff have taken on.
Board president Mark Wolfe raised a few questions about the project. “I personally like the idea of a pond, but I am opposed to it for safety and security reasons,” he said. Lewandowski said the area would likely be fenced, and said he would check further with the district’s insurance carrier regarding liability concerns. Wolfe also brought up concerns about trees that might compromise security issues, and whether plantings designed to attract insects might bring building problems later. He also asked that Lewandowski bring back an itemized budget of ongoing maintenance and operation costs.
Board member Lou Englund said Lewandowski should not get discouraged because the project has been part of a long-term goal. “Just stay focused,” he advised on the heels of the request to provide more information for the board. Board member Matt Oren said the principal and his entire staff should be commended for thinking outside the box for this project. “It’s a big endeavor,” he said.
In other business, the school board members:
• Decided to review four board goals developed last year during a special workshop, with a date to be determined.
• Heard from Interim Business Manager Bill Wright that there could be a potential decline of 60 students this year pending the official student count, which would affect the district’s funding allowance.
• Approved an overnight trip request by the THS Band to Chicago in April.