The Bobster
Senior News Editor since 2004
16
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/lo...ia/10669640.htm
Board to consider dean of students
By Dwayne Campbell
Inquirer Staff Writer
Looking for solutions to racial tension and incidents at Truman High School, the Bristol Township school board will consider creating a new, full-time position that would require expertise in conflict resolution, discipline, and diversity and sensitivity training.
School board President Jamie Kravcak said that when the board meets tonight, he hopes to impress upon members not only the importance of the new position - dean of students/director of peer mediation - but also the need to fill it quickly, possibly by the middle of next month.
The salary would be about $73,000, equivalent to that of a
middle school principal.
"We want to continue to be proactive," K
ravcak said in an interview last week. Along with the new position, he said, "there will be more shake-ups."
In the last two years, Truman's image has taken a beating over reports of violence and racial conflict among students.
In February, parents questioned student safety after three men entered Truman without permission and started a fight with a group of students. That month, Kravcak himself sneaked into the school undetected and confirmed that security was lax.
In March, some parents temporarily removed their children from Truman, fearing violence after a "take-out list" circulated among students. The document listed mostly African American students, with racist and other derogatory descriptions next to their names.
The school has made several security improvements, but is now faced with race-related incidents, including two fights and the wearing of clot
hing with militant slogans, that are being investigated by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. In particula
r, the commission is looking into the presence of police dogs at the school in October - an action that Kravcak approved in response to rumors of a coming racial brawl. The police dogs, conjuring images of the 1960s, incensed many African American parents.
The school has been meeting with the state commission and a handful of Bucks County social groups to help implement a diversity and sensitivity program.
Kravcak said he informed the Human Relations Commission of his intention to create the post of dean of students and received favorable reaction.
But not all nine board members are eager to see a new position on the payroll or other changes in personnel.
Board member Shae Morong said that she had heard rumors about a possible shake-up in the administration but that "nothing has been discussed."
"I personally don't want to see any changes
," said Morong, whose two daughters attend Truman. "The people there are doing their jobs. They are a good team, and they work well together."
Ruth Geise
l, Truman's principal, said she hoped her team would stay in place.
"I'm not saying we don't have problems. We're like any other high school," Geisel said. "But this is a good administrative team."
Geisel has headed Truman since July 2002. The school also has three assistant principals: Joseph Doyle, George Pollitt and Cynthia Lewis.
Morong also questioned the need for a dean of students, a position she said the district "can't afford."
"I'd rather wait for the [Human Relations Commission] investigation to be completed," she said. "I don't want to jump the gun."
Kravcak appears to have some support, however.
"Principals and guidance counselors are there for discipline, but sometimes kids just need someone to talk t
o. It can take hours to deal with these situations, and it takes time away from their other duties," said board member Sherri Champey, who "absolutely" sees a need for the new position.
Tonight, board members will also decide whether Truman's ninth grade, about 500 stu
dents, should be moved to the district's middle schools. Overcrowding in the 2,100-student high school has been blamed for some of the school's problems.
Meeting Tonight
The Bristol Township school board will meet at 8 tonight at the board's administrative offices, 6401 Mill Creek Rd. The meeting is open to the public.
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/lo...ia/10669640.htm
Board to consider dean of students
By Dwayne Campbell
Inquirer Staff Writer
Looking for solutions to racial tension and incidents at Truman High School, the Bristol Township school board will consider creating a new, full-time position that would require expertise in conflict resolution, discipline, and diversity and sensitivity training.
School board President Jamie Kravcak said that when the board meets tonight, he hopes to impress upon members not only the importance of the new position - dean of students/director of peer mediation - but also the need to fill it quickly, possibly by the middle of next month.
The salary would be about $73,000, equivalent to that of a
middle school principal.
"We want to continue to be proactive," K
ravcak said in an interview last week. Along with the new position, he said, "there will be more shake-ups."
In the last two years, Truman's image has taken a beating over reports of violence and racial conflict among students.
In February, parents questioned student safety after three men entered Truman without permission and started a fight with a group of students. That month, Kravcak himself sneaked into the school undetected and confirmed that security was lax.
In March, some parents temporarily removed their children from Truman, fearing violence after a "take-out list" circulated among students. The document listed mostly African American students, with racist and other derogatory descriptions next to their names.
The school has made several security improvements, but is now faced with race-related incidents, including two fights and the wearing of clot
hing with militant slogans, that are being investigated by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. In particula
r, the commission is looking into the presence of police dogs at the school in October - an action that Kravcak approved in response to rumors of a coming racial brawl. The police dogs, conjuring images of the 1960s, incensed many African American parents.
The school has been meeting with the state commission and a handful of Bucks County social groups to help implement a diversity and sensitivity program.
Kravcak said he informed the Human Relations Commission of his intention to create the post of dean of students and received favorable reaction.
But not all nine board members are eager to see a new position on the payroll or other changes in personnel.
Board member Shae Morong said that she had heard rumors about a possible shake-up in the administration but that "nothing has been discussed."
"I personally don't want to see any changes
," said Morong, whose two daughters attend Truman. "The people there are doing their jobs. They are a good team, and they work well together."
Ruth Geise
l, Truman's principal, said she hoped her team would stay in place.
"I'm not saying we don't have problems. We're like any other high school," Geisel said. "But this is a good administrative team."
Geisel has headed Truman since July 2002. The school also has three assistant principals: Joseph Doyle, George Pollitt and Cynthia Lewis.
Morong also questioned the need for a dean of students, a position she said the district "can't afford."
"I'd rather wait for the [Human Relations Commission] investigation to be completed," she said. "I don't want to jump the gun."
Kravcak appears to have some support, however.
"Principals and guidance counselors are there for discipline, but sometimes kids just need someone to talk t
o. It can take hours to deal with these situations, and it takes time away from their other duties," said board member Sherri Champey, who "absolutely" sees a need for the new position.
Tonight, board members will also decide whether Truman's ninth grade, about 500 stu
dents, should be moved to the district's middle schools. Overcrowding in the 2,100-student high school has been blamed for some of the school's problems.
Meeting Tonight
The Bristol Township school board will meet at 8 tonight at the board's administrative offices, 6401 Mill Creek Rd. The meeting is open to the public.