Thursday, March 7, 2013
Want to know just how troublesome your children are while at school? See select disciplinary numbers from the district's second quarter.
Every quarter, and annually, Gwinnett County Public Schools publishes its discipline report summary. At the recent school board meeting, the school district released thhe second quarter's report. It is for infractions from November 2012 - January 2013. See below a snapshot of selected items presented in the report. Number of Unsafe School Choice Option (USCO) violations in the district. These are violations determined by the state to be related, in part, to violent criminal offenses. To see last year's top violators, click here. Percent of disciplinary panels in the district that were held for high school students. This includes 342 panels, with 255 in regular education. This is compared with 352 panels in the first quarter. Last year in …
There are no "persistently dangerous" schools in Gwinnett County. But, there are schools that have proved more dangerous than others. Where does your child's school fit in?
Under No Child Left Behind, states must develop a definition of "persistently dangerous" schools, and then allow students to transfer who have been victims of a violent criminal offense or who attend a school that meets the definition. This is defined as the Unsafe Schools Choice Option. Currently, there are no "persistently dangerous" schools (based on the state's definition)* in Gwinnett County, or even Georgia. However, there are schools in Gwinnett County that have had more violations than others. Below find schools with the most violations in 2012, included within the definition of "persistently dangerous." 2012 Districtwide Data Total Violations: 527 255 -- non-felony drugs 155 -- felony weapons 81 -- felony drugs 33 -- terroristic …
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
On Jan. 31, a teen shooter brought a gun on to the campus of Atlanta's Price Middle School and shot a student. Parents there are enraged. So, we're asking are you concerned about safety at Gwinnett County schools?
Last week's shooting at an Atlanta middle school certainly upset parents in that school district, but it also may have piqued your concern. In that incident, a 14-year-old boy was sent to the hospital after a bullet grazed his neck. He was released later that day. And, a 15-year-old was arrested and charged in what police are calling a "gang-related" shooting, according to media reports. Since then, angry parents have questioned the operation of metal detectors and overall security at the school. At a recent school board meeting, APS Director of Security Marquenta Sands said that they are looking at "advanced technology" to keep children safe, according to an AJC report. She offered few specifics though, and gave little explanation as to …
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
They are armed with optimism, compassion, and love. They are also armed with knowledge of their subjects. They persevere in spite of lack of support, shrinking resources, and strident demands for improved test scores.
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Tuesday, February 5
America is still reeling from the recent shooting in Sandy Hook, CT, that killed 20 students and 6 educators. One can only imagine how their families continue to cope with their loss, or how the rest of us make it every day after such a watershed event. Some suggest more prayer, while others say more gun control. Whatever it is, lord, give us more of it-we sure need it. One suggestion is to arm educators. To some, this is not as absurd as it seems. After all, teachers are already on the front lines in facing overcrowded classrooms, gang violence, and now armed intruders. Loaded guns might seem a helpful solution to the problem. However, it could also increase violence if their weapons fall into the wrong hands. One shudders to think about …
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Could the shooting that took place in Connecticut happen at your child's school?
The Connecticut shooting has awakened many parents, especially me. Most teachers and school administrators focus on ways to make sure students are present in class, safely getting to the right bus and safely making it home, but the thought of some random person walking into your school and shooting students is not something that we prepare for. Every school goes through the traditional fire drill and hurricane drill, but what about the “Stranger-Danger” drill? The president said it best that this is becoming all too familiar to our nation. So is your child’s school safe? Over the last two months, I took the time to visit a few elementary schools within Lawrenceville. My son will be attending kindergarten next year so before we make the …
Monday, December 17, 2012
Patch is in Newtown, Conn., and we are providing comprehensive coverage of the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
Patch is committed to providing comprehensive coverage on the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Newtown Patch, located in the city of the shooting massacre, is updating its news coverage continuously. Read stories of the victims, which included 20 children all between the ages of five and seven; updates from local Connecticut law enforcement; ways that the public can help, and more. Click here for Newtown Patch's coverage. See related stories on Lilburn-Mountain Park Patch, as well:
Kelly Blake
2:24 pm on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
If cost is an issue, maybe just parking police cars at schools during the day to discourage criminals would be an alternative. more ›