PEORIA -- School activist and critic Terry Knapp called on the Peoria District 150 School Board to set up an alternative school to handle disruptive and bullying students, at the board's Jan. 24 meeting.
"You refuse to remove disruptive students. There are children who are bullying staff members, calling them names. I would advise teachers to file assault charges" against students who verbally assault them, Knapp said.
He spoke in reference to an incident last week where musician and radio announcer Lee Wenger was arrested for battery for allegedly shoving a 14-year-old student against a locker after the girl had insulted his wife, Peoria High School choral director and musician Denise Adams. Wenger was at a rehearsal of the Gilbert and Sullivan musical The Mikado, scheduled for Peoria High, but now cancelled.
Knapp blamed the board's lack of an alternative school for the incident, saying the girl should have been removed from the school earlier in the year, as she had caused trouble before she provoked Wenger.
(Update 1/25/11: Others, however, later disputed that statement and said she was a good student and not in trouble earlier.)
The Mikado was part of a series of Gilbert and Sullivan musicals that were performed under Adams direction for 16 years at the now closed Woodruff High School, without incident, Knapp said.
Adams was transferred to Peoria High School, but the future of the musicals is now in doubt. "We allow a 14-year-old student to (insult) staff members. They belong in an alternative school" or in a computer room to do school work only on line, he said.
Knapp also remarked that the Edison schools now have only 1,200 students, versus 2,300 students a few years ago. "They have counseled out students" who are "bad test takers," to get their test scores up, he said. Meanwhile Edison is still being paid the same amount, $886,000 a year. "Look into that," he said.
Other highlights:
A parent, Bill Romanus, complained that the school board has not responded to requests to visit with parents at Peoria High. He praised the school staff but said they get no backing from the administration. "Discipline and safety" are top issues, he said.
He also complained about punishing students for using cell phones with a two-day suspension. "It's academic punishment for discipline. It makes no sense," he said.
He also complained about the district's decision to seek a $6 million grant which, if awarded, will require the principal's removal. ""Chasing dollars you're willing to throw the staff under the bus," he said.
The staff had a 40 percent turnover this year, he said. "Give our staff a multi-year contract and see what happens. You have no problem giving it to carpetbaggers," he said, referring to out-of-town administrators hired this year on contracts.
Activist Savino Sierra complained that the district's buildings are not well maintained and need improvement while the board is building new schools.
Teacher union president Bob Darling questioned why administrators are allowed to take vacation during the school year.
The audio recording is posted here.
-- Elaine Hopkins
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