Super: School Culture Changed in a Positive Way

The number of fights and violent incidents at has decreased dramatically over the past school year, according to superintendent Joseph Kraemer, who said that only one fight has occurred in school during the 2011-2012 school year to date. One fight took place on a school bus early in the school year, Kraemer said.

"The culture of JTHS has changed in a very positive way. Beginning with the efforts to personalize the school environment by returning to grade level specific homerooms, assigning faculty advisors to students in a 1:12 ratio, and implementing monthly advisory programs, we have seen a dramatic decrease in fights and violent incidents," he said.

Kraemer added that students are becoming more willing to share information with administrators, teaching staff, hall monitors and the school resource officer as situations begin to escalate, resulting in communication that allows the JTHS administration and counseling staff to get involved in situations before things escalate and become physical.

Kraemer outlined what happens in the school upon hearing of a possible conflict. The following strategies usually take place:

• Students meet individually with an administrator, counselor or child study team member to share their concerns.
• Administrators reach out to staff and student witnesses who may be able to provide data.
• Administrators and counselors practice conflict resolution strategies to help de-escalate thestudent conflict.
• Faculty members are kept informed of potential incidents involving students in their classes or areas of supervision (i.e., lunch or hall duty).

"Several incidents have been averted due to these strategies," Kraemer said. 

When a fight does occur, the following protocol is followed: 

• Students are immediately separated and escorted by a staff member to the main office and nurse’s office individually.
• The nurse examines each student and provides the administration with a report.
• The students are interviewed by an administrator. The student’s counselor and/or child study team case manager is notified.
• Students are kept in individual offices/areas of the main office to maintain separation.
• Students are provided an opportunity to provide an oral and a written statement of events. 
• Video data, electronic communications and witness statements are reviewed and analyzed by the administration to determine individual students’ culpability.
• Parents are contacted and appropriate discipline is assigned.