Scott Swanson
Of The New Era
Lunchtime behavior at Sweet Home High School seems to be improved thus far this year, Principal Pat Stineff and student representative Dallin Holden told the District 55 School Board Monday night.
Stineff and Holden outlined some of the steps taken to make students aware of community concerns that have prompted talk of closing the high school campus during lunch.
Holden told board members that Stineff and fall Activity Director Steve Thorpe had spoken to the student body about the possibility of a closed campus during the first week of school.
“They have told everyone that we need to be more respectful, create a better image for Sweet Home High School, not to use profanity and to clean up our garbage,” he said. “Open campus is a privilege. We have the responsibility to present a good image for our school if we want to keep this.”
Stineff said that, though she realizes school has only been in session for a week, students appear to be responding positively.
“I have noticed less garbage in the halls (following lunch),” she said.
She said that one idea being considered is to hand out disposable cameras to local merchants who could then photograph teens who are causing trouble.
“We need to know who they are,” she said.
Stineff said that students will also be reminded during their Husky Tracks mentoring sessions that their actions could backfire.
“They’ve been told there needs to be an immediate change in behavior,” she said.
She said that business owners may be asked to speak to students about the problems they’ve experienced.
Superintendent Larry Horton said he also has noticed that there seems to be less litter so far this year.
He said he’s seen the elderly owner of the property at 15th and Long, across from the high school, picking up trash left by students.
“That’s ridiculous,” he said.
In response to concerns voiced by board members, Stineff said the issue is not going to go away.
“We’re not going to just drop the topic,” she said.
In other action Monday, the board
– Approved revisions to board policies covering a wide range of issues, from how long a vehicle can idle in front of a school to guidelines for use of copyrighted materials, distance learning, cyberbulling, use of the district’s new automated external defibrillator and more.
Board members agreed with trustee Jason Redick that they needed more time on one policy, administrative regulations dealing with charter schools that have been proposed by the Oregon School Boards Association. They voted to continue consideration of revisions to that policy until their next meeting.
– Heard a report on district state testing results from Jan Sharp, the district’s curriculum/staff development director. Sharp reported during a work session preceding the regular meeting that writing continues to be most students’ weakest area and science appears to be their strong suit. Economically disadvantaged students and special education students are below expectations at the high school level, she said.
– Heard a report on the status of the district’s $19,174,314 bond expenditures. Business Manager Kevin Strong, in a written report, stated that $397,438 remains of the original amount, which has been used for extensive improvements to the high school and Hawthorne School, and lesser work on other school facilities.
Horton said most of the remaining money is being used for American Disabilities Act-required ramps and bathroom facilities in district schools.