CITY SCHOOLS Superintendent: Hillman is safe, despite reports

Some teachers report being shoved by pupils and threatened by parents.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Hillman Middle School is safe for pupils, parents and teachers, despite fights there over the past several months, Superintendent Dr. Wendy Webb says.
Webb responded today to at least five police reports that have been filed since April by teachers at Hillman, 164 W. Myrtle Ave. on the South Side.
The reports recount instances in which teachers were shoved by pupils and cursed at and threatened by parents. No serious injuries have been reported.
On Oct. 26, police reported that a 61-year-old teacher said a 13-year-old girl pushed him, causing him to fall. The girl was arrested on a charge of assault, police said.
In two other instances, pupils were suspended for 10 days for their actions, police reports say. One case involved a pupil who shoved a teacher's hand. In the other, a pupil threatened to punch a teacher in the mouth, police said.
"I'm troubled when any child acts out," Webb said. But, she added, "sometimes reports can sound worse than they are."
2 sides
There are two sides to every story, Webb added.
She said a teacher recently contended his vehicle was vandalized at the school. The vandalism turned out to be a cupcake being smashed on the vehicle's window.
Webb acknowledged that Hillman "has issues" involving pupils and parents who sometimes behave improperly.
The school, which has about 350 pupils in fifth through eighth grade, has its own probation officer.
Earlier this year, the district added a second assistant principal to the staff to help deal with any problems that arise, Webb said.
Hillman teacher Joseph Sepesy, who said he has been verbally assaulted and threatened by parents twice this year, sent Hillman Principal Nancy Murray a letter Friday.
It said security at the school is poor, the situation constitutes an emergency and Hillman should have a full-time police officer.
The district has security personnel who can get to the school quickly if needed, Webb said.
"Every situation gets dealt with," she added.