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SROs should not be used in Middle Schools except in extraordinary situations. It would be better to have disciplinarians. The cost of a armed sworn officer is about the same as an ass't principal. Other counties do not use them in all Middle Schools. This is a case of the BOE over doing it. The law says High Schools, so BOE doubles the amount and the cost. Let's keep the SROs this year and phase them out by the 2006-2007 year.

Mr. Stafford,

I am just curious, when was the last time you visited a Middle School?

Do you have a child in Middle School?

Have you ever SPOKEN to a Resource Officer at a Middle School just to hear the events of a typical day?

I'm guessing that you have NO IDEA what kids are doing these days.

I'm sorry if you feel that your tax dollars are being wasted on the protection of children. I would much rather pay for an SRO, and never need them (but we do) than have that same money sit in Grier's pocket.

If you are so worried about this county saving money, you are barking up the wrong tree by advocating for our SRO's to be taken away.

If you want to save money, then go bark up the tree that wants to give a raise to the board members and Terry Grier, and leave my Middle School's SRO out of it.

Until you have a child at one of these schools, you really are posting to deaf ears.

I agree with Mrs. T. After only a few years of teaching, I have seen and heard things that I never IMAGINED could happen at the middle school level, much less at the high school level. I have been fortunate to have taught some wonderful young people and have learned a lot from them. However, I have also dealt with students that had serious issues such as violence, extreme behavioral-emotional disorders, drug problems, homelessness, etc. On top of this, middle school students are going through many physical and emotional changes that further add to any problems they already have. Also, the problems they are dealing with at home are not left at home. Everything is brought to school, so you end up with a classroom with a few or many volatile students. While the main thing students need are encouragement and love, I as a teacher have to be concerned with the well being of my entire classroom. If a student acts out towards me or other students, measures (such as removing a student from the classroom) must be taken to ensure my kids don't get hurt.

I know that it is horrible to think that we need SROs at all in our schools. It's a visual reminder of how our schools have changed when you see a uniformed officer at school. Even so, I would rather have an officer in both our middle and high schools to ensure that our schools are safe for everyone and that students can learn in an environment free of fear. I believe that is worth the expense and I know that the majority of teachers and parents agree with me.

Joe,

I have to agree with Mrs. T and Andi and looking at the unscientific poll so far, the overwhelming majority wants these SRO's. A sad but necessary statement.

Middle school today and society and kids are not the same as when you went to school. We didn't have MTV; the internet; the garbage on TV that is
shown as "the norm"; the gratuitous violence; violent video games; "Columbine"; the number of broken homes; the drugs, etc. If you got in trouble in school, you were expelled and/or went to juvenile court. There were consequences in school and at home.

A parent was usually home to call if there was a problem and they went to the school. You had parental support; people knew their neighbors and the neighbors' kids. There were stable and supportive communities. This is not how it is today.

Kids in middle school are older, their hormones ever changing and they have "issues".

I will have to disagree with Andi on one thing. In the book "Setting Limits in The Classroom". It states that one of the worst things to do is to send a kid to the principal's office. He loves it; can bug the secretaries and everyone else; and there is a lot of action there for him to watch.

In a kid is out of control, you remove the class from out of the range of fire and get them in the hallway. At least if a kid is then throwing chairs or kicking over bookcases as I have witnessed in elementary school, the other kids are safe.

When I had the kid who grabbed the assistant's scissors in the 2nd grade, the assistant and I got the other kids out of the way and safe. The principal and a specialty teacher and another person took care of the disruptive student.

It is a reality that violent incidences happen. We need to support our teachers and principals and we need a back-up plan. We cannot just keep our heads in the sand.

The bottom line is a teacher should not have to fear going to work every day. That is not what they were called to do or what they went to school for. The teachers I know love to teach and want to make a difference; not break up fights.

Barbara Ann,

You have referenced that book before and it sounds like a great tool that Guilford County teachers could use.

From the several times you have quoted it, I see more useful information from that than some diversity training.

AND I'm guessing that it doesn't have a $500,000 price tag like the Cross Roads ministry, does it?

I think it should be required summer reading for the Superintendent, Board, Principals and teachers.

You must truly care about our kids to be reading books like this on your own time. Can you give the author?

Thanks, you're great!

Thanks Mrs. T for the compliment. I try to make a difference somehow, esp for the kids who may not be blessed with the best home situation.

With some kids - you just know they will be fine; others need a friend to talk to.

The author is Robert J. MacKenzie. I only got to read parts of it during a 5 day sub job on my break. But I am going to purchase it.

I do hope GCS could make it required summer reading or buy each teacher a copy. It is well worth it. They could purchase it at a batch discount.

It could also be helpful for volunteers in the classroom.

Yes, I do think money more wisely spent then on the controversial Crossroads.

Yes. I had a boy and a girl finish Middle School in Guilford County. The youngest finished Middle School in 1993. I am not against SROs in Middle Schools when the level of violance requires it. In many Middle Schools the SRO does not have much to do and could be replaced by a 9 month employee trained in discipline problems. I got my copy of the book today in the mail. I look forward to reading it.

Joe,

Thanks for staying involved. You will really like this book.

Saw you were kind of a lone ranger again at the community meeting on budget last night.

Great stamina!

Barbara Ann

Barbara Ann

I wish the BOE and Supt. was not so defensive. Education works best in a collegial environment.

The BOE and Supt. must learn that Guilford County citizens do not make the money of Wake and Mecklenburg citizens. The economy is really bad here. I have seen many people that were making $55k or more lose their jobs. After a year of looking, they often wind up with a job in the 22-25k range.

We need more good jobs. Most people think that increading the tax rates will scare away industry. The Supt. always complains about the support of the Commissioners, but when you add capital funds to the operating funds, you will find that Guilford is up at the top.

The building program is costly and impressive. R we trying to move out of trailers too quickly?
If we had chosen to delay renovation of Dudley, we could have had 30 million for something else.

Joe,

Agreed on the economy. I have many friends I know of whose husbands have lost their jobs. Now some are corporate widows due to the HP Plan. They are stuck here with family responsibilties and stress of day-to-day life, while their husband's have moved to a new job out of the area and they can't sell their homes.

I too have heard that GC is at the top but don't have the figures in front of me.

Joe, the problem is that it took 17 years to build a school, Pilot Elementary in 1996. It was let go for so long prior to merger. Why was their such lack of foresight?

Some of the trailers are fine, but others are ancient and are IMHO "dumps". None of the trailers are safe if a tornado comes. The children are exposed to the elements to go to the cafeteria and their specials. Some kids eat "lunch" during breakfast hours. Our children deserve more. It is not their fault because adults are so political and they get left behind and get the leftover crumbs.

It would be great if all the kids could have a new building and equipment. But you are right; there is only so much money to go around. Everyone has to wait their turn. I wasn't aware of Dudley's needs so I can't comment there. I just know there are many schools in need; some need just basics like paint and bathrooms that work. But as they wait their turns, the needs grow because of unplanned and irresponsible developers. Why don't developers/builders in this area pay use fees or have to donate land for schools/roads like other areas in the rest of the country?

What people here have a problem with is the priorities where money is spent by GCS. You said it best, "They need a plan; goals." How much goes to teachers, school supplies, maintenance repair (remember reading a $19 million list of needs from principals - think that was the number)vs more top heavy paid positions at Central Office. How much money do we see in actual positive educational results? How many consultants and people with titles do we actually need?

Barbara Ann,
It took way to long to build Pilot because Dot Kearns who was then head of the County Commissioners said they wouldn't fund any building until the county agreed to merge with the two cities. The county schools were bursting at the seams so some thought it was blackmail.

The County Commissioners did great harm to our schools that will be felt for many years to come.

Yes I have heard a lot about the "history" and "politics" of this area. Why didn't Greensboro City or High Point City Schools build some schools or fix or replace their schools either? Same reason?

That is a good reason why there should be term limits on school board positions and commissioners.

It is a moot point now about no schools being built when needed. Because here we are with $19 million in repair requests; thousands of kids going to schools in trailers every day. What is laughable is all the positive PR that is put in the newpapers for outsider businesses to read. Anyone who is thinking of moving here does their homework; asks questions; studies test scores and drives around.

They can see all the trailer schools and it is not what they have moved from.

What is sad is because of politics, kids do without. It seems like priorities are never in order.

For example. I find it strange that a school such as SWH which has produced champion swimmers has no swimming pool. While some other schools that have great sports facilities, forfeit games or don't participate. I just don't get this.

It will be tough to market a bond ref in the near future to the public because of everything that has occurred the past year in our schools. There is a lot of trust that needs to be established between the board and the community or a new bond ref will never fly.

Once again, the kids lose.

We would have less trailers if the BOE gave a priority to new construction over renovations. You save a lot of money due to less trailers having to be purchased.From 1978 to 1998, we did no building except the classroom addition at Pleasant Garden Elementary.

Another woe of trailers.

When it rains or snows, my child can't go to art or music (both are in trailers).

Nice, huh?

Mr. Stafford,

In response to your comment about phasing SRO's out in the 06-07 school year. I must say, you really have no idea what they do during the year. Ok, replace one with an AP, who is going to handle the serious assaults or the weapons/drug searches? If you pull an officer from the street to handle it, then you are causing a neighborhood or "beat" to lose an officer when there could be one to handle those types of things everyday. If a middle school called 911 for every incident an SRO got involved with, then it would take a serious toll on the patrol areas in the community and citizens would complain that they have no police service in the neighborhood because of the call volume. It also says alot when principals ask the BOE for SRO's instead of additional AP's. It is a sad day that the world has to have cops in schools, but unfortunately we are at that point and I am afraid that it isn't going to get any better.
On a separate issue, I am new to the Chalkboard and find the "regulars" posts to be quite interesting. Please keep the posts coming.

You have a point there about building. 30 million for one renovation is a lot of bucks.

Beg to differ on building years. We moved here in summer of 1996. I believe it was August of 1996 when Pilot Elementary was built - 1st school in 17 years AND within just a few weeks, guess what? YEP - TRAILERS on their site. Talk about long range planning.

Other building had depended on the bond money of 2000. It really was needed.

I have worked in a trailer subbing for Music with no heat in 55 degrees; no A/C in 98 degrees; open the doors; bees fly in; we all pull out our epipins; then the janitor sprays poison; and the inhalers come out; no hot water and it smells like sulfur; bathroom had urine stain embedded on the floor; torn carpeting (trip hazard) with some places taped. I just tell the kids we are camping out. Let's sing some camp songs today. Kids are so easy to please if you are creative.
Sound like a fun day?

Now it is luckily a storage trailer. The one year that Music Teacher got Teacher of the Year. Believe me - she really deserved it.

The school districts that have sworn gun toting officers in Middle Schools are few and far between. The function the SROs perform will have to be performed by someone. All I am asking is that we take a look at an alternative that is in place at hundreds of systems in the U.S. The alternative saves money and it treats 12 year old children like children. The heavy hand can be administered by people in civilian clothes that do not carry guns.

Joe,

I will be honest. When I first drove my daughter to middle school in 6th grade and saw an SRO, I was sick. I didn't know about them. I asked her why the "police" where at her school? what happened today? She explained the officer was always there. I thought what kind of situation am I putting her in?

This was so new to me. I grew up in the city, Catholic School, in the 60's. We didn't even have locks on our "lockers". It just wasn't necessary. There were no discipline problems; you didn't get accepted into middle school/high school if you had any behavior issues. Period.

Later, I saw how the kids related to the SROs. The SRO at the high school was considered a "hotty". The girls all thought he was cute. The kids accept the SROs as part of the school team.

If these people that serve are trained specialists to do a specific balancing act between friend and protector, believe me they are needed. It is better to have someone there on a daily basis who knows the student community. The know who is just having an "off" day verses a real trouble maker.

If kids aren't doing anything wrong, they have no fear of an SRO. Just go about their school day and do what they are supposed to be doing in school. It is that simple.

I sure have learned a lot since Aug. 2000 - middle school 6th grade. I am glad the SROs are there. Bottom line, I feel the teachers and principals of each individual school should have the final say. And their opinions should be respected. They know their schools better than anyone.

Glad you have joined us, T. We hope you'll become a regular.

Barbara Ann

Your ideas on local choice are not now in effect. Local choice on whether the Middle School should have a SRO or other items like Teachers Assistants, Training, etc. is a good idea. I would endorse that approach.

Best regards

This is great, Joe, as long as they are not told, coerced or pressured in any way by anyone above them as to what "they" want.

In the very end though, does it really matter what "we" think.

Based on the past 17 months, I think not.

Forget uniforms, at some of these "schools" fully armed Humvees would not be out of line.

I truly think think that we need uniformed officers in our school system today. I graduated high school in 2000, and I know that even then we used our resource officer on almost a daily basis. Granted some things were minor and a male teacher could have probably stepped in, but I still think that there is something about an officer that students respect, and hopefully fear. When teachers try to step in I think it is less effective just because the students are use to dealing with this person on a day to day basis, and they know how far they can push a teacher. Most students in today's society, no matter what age, have less respect for adults than they use to. Kids know that they can cry abuse and adults know that there are certain limits as to the discipline they can give their children. I think the same applys for teachers and thats why they get less respect than a police officer.

My final thought is that taking officers out of public schools would only leave more room for students to feel they could act out and get away with it.

I truly do feel that uniform officers in schools are ok, because it shows a present of safety in the schools. But in the same token I could look at it as they do have male teachers that can step in and help out when need, but those teachers may feel that, that can be a bit much when you are trying to focus in on your class situation. children in schools know right from wrong and if things were not getting as bad as they are we wouldn't need them there at all.

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