The Bluffer - Red Bluff, CA
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/252481
Red Bluff High grapples with discipline and school safety The Bluffer Serving Red Bluff High School since 1901 Volume CXV Issue 9 January 31, 2014 Search for Talent The Red Bluff Exchange is hosting their annual Search for Talent. Applications can be found in the Counseling Center. Auditions will be on Saturday, February 1, 2014. If you can sing, dance or wiggle your ears, give it go! Notes and Noodles Red Bluff High's annual Notes and Noodles concert and spaghetti dinner will be held tonight from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. This year's theme encompasses Disney- themed music. Tables will have different themes from different movies.For more information you can talk to any Red Bluff High school band member or call (530) 736-1530. Weekend Forecast High 63° Low 32° Varsity Girls Soccer- Page 6 Ryan Fisher Sports Editor High 64° Low 32° High 61° Low 34° Friday: Saturday: Sunday: Winter Formal 'Her'- Page 5 -Adrien Stejer Marissa Chase Editor-in-Chief 'Bandmaster Ruckus' -Page 4 With a nationwide push in limiting the number of harsher punishments doled out to students in schools, according to John Schwabauer, Dean of Students, Red Bluff High is heading down a similar path. This passive approach to discipline, as explained by Schwabauer, is designed to keep students in school. "Instead of just trying to get rid of students, we are trying to help them. If a kid is not in class learning, they will often times fall behind," commented Schwabauer. However, this new style of punishment does raise concern in the eyes of students and faculty members. Although certain regulations and guidelines must be followed when suspending or expelling students, and specific offenses mandate an automatic suspension or expulsion, Red Bluff High's overall safety is being called With the recent termination of Lisa Escobar as superintendent, the School Board was required to hire a temporary superintendent to finish off the 2013-2014 school year. Doctor Joe Harrop, a former Red Bluff High School superintendent, worked in the District Office from 1973 to 1983 as the Director of Business Services and the Administrative Services Director before he became the permanent superintendent of the high school. He then left that job to be the superintendent/principal for Gerber, left their to work at Simpson University where he supervised the School Administration Program, and later became the Dean of Education. As the temporary superintendent, Harrop's role is pretty limited as he will only be here for the remainder of the school year. However, he does have some short term goals that he will focus on until he is relieved of his job. "I view my role as someone who can sort out the various issues facing our school, open lines of communication between staff, develop some plans for moving forward, and supporting what is best for all of our students," said Harrop. Harrop, being retired, mentioned that he will not become the permanent superintendent because he does not want a full time commitment, and also said his main commitment goes to being a grandfather. "The district needs someone who is more current and up to date; I retired from education over ten years ago. I just want to be helpful to a school district I care about," Harrop commented. With someone who has the experience of being a retired superintendent, he was asked if he would have any say in choosing the next superintendent. He replied saying that he will be participating in the screening process, but the School Board will make the final decision of who to hire. Since his job is temporary and he is retired, he will not be with us next year but will do his best to push the school district in the right direction for the next superintendent. I just want to be helpful to a school district I care about." -Joe Harrop " into question. Is Red Bluff High's campus really safe? With this being said, there are differing opinions. According to Schwabauer, there has not been an increase in gang activity on campus compared to previous years. Schwabauer reported that there have actually been less on campus fights this year. With this being said, his major concern rests in the layout and openness of the campus. "I'm more afraid of people coming onto our school than of our students," Schwabauer stated. Principal Ron Fisher was in agreement with Schwabauer about the concern of the openness of the campus. Both Schwabauer and Fisher have been working on creating an in school suspension program. The idea was to get it up and running at the beginning of second semester; however, trying to find enough teachers proved to be a deterring factor. In addition to this, RBHS is looking to hire a campus supervisor to continually monitor the campus. At this time this position has not been filled. Although there are many ideas in both the planning and implementing stages, there is much doubt and worry with safety on campus as it stands. Not only have students noticed more fights on campus, but they see more gang activity. A student commented, "Honestly, I feel like they should have more people watching out. There were three fights in the last week. They say they have cameras, but they don't really use them correctly." According to Jasmine Ditner, a sophomore at RBHS, the gang activity is noticeable and obvious. While she feels safe on campus at most times, she doesn't feel secure alone. When dealing with whether Red Bluff High is effective in the way it approaches discipline as a whole, both Cameron Perdue and Christian Ortize, sophomores, felt the same way. According to them, the penalties are not harsh enough. Ortiz said, "Getting suspended "I do wish we'd had the money to maintain them" -Mrs. Palubeski This is your last day to get winter formal tickets! Be sure to pick your up at the student store. It's twelve dollars for a single and twenty for a double without ASB, and ten for a single and eighteen for a double with ASB. and bringing a student back right away is not effective." "If the problem is at school, why would you want to keep them at school," questioned Perdue. Some teachers feel similarly. According to Kathleen Ferran, a health teacher at RBHS, her concern pertains to the students and whether they feel safe. "I wonder if the kids feel safe," said Ferran. Jessica Gantenbein, a science teacher, explained, "There seems to be an increase in gang presence, as well as activity. In the past, the culture of RBHS was about empowering students. I believe if students feel empowered and valued, they will work towards doing what's best. I believe we need to work towards returning to that culture." While it is not clear to some administration if there are legitimate safety issues at RBHS, students have conflicting opinions and viewpoints. As a result, it is not necessarily straightforward as to what lies next. Joe Harrop announced as temporary superintendent