SCHOOLS Webb praises response to shooting

The board also recognized accomplishments of pupils in various competitions.
YOUNGSTOWN -- City schools Superintendent Wendy Webb praised Woodrow Wilson High students and their parents for pulling together in the aftermath of a Friday shooting before the high school's prom.
Webb, speaking at Tuesday night's board of education meeting, also commended students on how they handled themselves at the prom after two people were wounded.
"I'm very sorry we have to live in a society where these events happen," she said. "I'm very proud of the students of Wilson High School."
She also commended the decision of the board to continue with the prom at the Embassy Club in Struthers, saying that she didn't want to "punish the kids" for the actions of a few people.
Police arrested Ronaldo Miller, 21, of East Dewey Avenue after the 6:15 p.m. shooting during the school's prom walk-in at the school's main entrance on Gibson Street.
Webb also thanked Ted Terlecky, who is in charge of security for the board, Youngstown police and the Boardman police K-9 unit for their work.
Recognition
In other business, Youngstown pupils were recognized by the school board for placing first, second or third in a competition event, a science fair and an art show.
The youngsters were recognized for their achievements in a robotics and science fair, a History Day competition and the ninth annual All City Art Show.
The science fair took place Jan. 22 at Youngstown State University and district pupils in grades 8-12 took first, second and third place in physical science, environmental science, technology and comprehensive science.
Two groups of pupils from Volney Rogers Middle School took first and second place in a robotics competition held Jan. 8 at YSU.
The History Day event, which also took place at YSU, featured several first-, second- and third-place finishes from pupils in the junior divisions at Hayes Middle School, as well as a first-place finish for Chaney High School's senior division.
Twenty pupils received ribbons for their two- and three-dimensional exhibits as part of the city art show. Four pupils each won in the high school, middle school, third- and fourth-grade, primary and sculpture divisions. Their artwork will be on display at the Youngstown Board of Education building on Wood Street until June 4.
Wesley Collier, a junior at Choffin Career and Technical Center, was recognized for being elected state parliamentarian at the Skills USA conference in Columbus. Skills USA, an extracurricular activity, trains young people in how the democratic process works and teaches them various leadership positions.
Open caucus
During the board's open caucus, board members heard from Saedah Hadi, a teacher of special assignments with the district's intensive English department. In her presentation, Hadi outlined an Intensive English Language Learners program designed to help bilingual pupils become more proficient in English and to adapt academically and socially.
The program offers a "pull-out class" for supplemental instruction in English, Hadi noted. The 178 kids in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 in the program are mainstreamed in regular classes, she added.
The program benefits teachers by providing professional development tools in cultural awareness and sensitivity, she said.
"We want to be a support system for [the students] and to help them transition into American schools and society," Hadi said.