2 rallies focus on fighting in school

By Tim Yovich

White businessmen are becoming interested in the disciplinary issue, a minister says.

WARREN — Two rallies designed to pressure the board of education to take a closer look at its zero-tolerance policy for fighting in school are scheduled for this week.

The Rev. Alton Merrell Sr., pastor of New Jerusalem Fellowship, said the first rally sponsored by the Warren West Side Community Coalition will be at 6 p.m. today at New Freedom Missionary Baptist Church, 1590 Tod Ave. S.W.

Pastors from various churches will have a rally at 6 p.m. Wednesday at New Jerusalem Fellowship, 2555 Palmyra Road.

About a dozen black ministers attempted last week to conduct a press conference at the school board offices, after they said they’ve been unable to meet with the administration about the fighting policy.

Schools Superintendent Kathryn Hellweg said then that none of the ministers asked to meet with her. They did, however, talk with Robert Faulkner, school board president.

At issue is the status of three black girls — two of them seniors — who were expelled for fighting.

One of the seniors has been enrolled in Life Skills Center in Youngstown and will graduate, but not from Warren G. Harding High School, the Rev. Mr. Merrell said. The other senior and a sophomore remain expelled from the city schools.

The ministers are questioning how the policy is administered because the senior who will not graduate was a good student and had not been a disciplinary problem, they explained, adding that she was attempting to defend herself from the other girls.

Mr. Merrell said this is not a black-white issue. “It’s a snowball rolling,” he said, noting that white churches are becoming interested.

The Rev. Frank L. Hearns, pastor of Second Baptist Church, said members of his congregation at Good Friday and Easter Sunday services were “quite receptive” as he explained the concerns.

“They were aware of the problem but not to the degree that we are,” Mr. Hearns said.

He noted that members of the white business community have called him expressing their concern about the disciplinary policy.

During Sunday services in a dozen or so churches, fliers were passed out asking school board members to revise the district’s disciplinary policy concerning fighting, Mr. Merrell said.

Also, petitions were signed asking the board to allow expelled students to return to classes and consider the days off as adequate punishment, revamp disciplinary procedures to give administrators more discretion in applying punishment, ensure an impartial arbiter in appeals of suspensions and expulsions, and promote cultural diversity and training for teachers, administrators and board members.

The ministers aren’t against discipline but question how it’s being administered, Mr. Merrell explained. He noted that some parents can’t afford attorneys to represent their children in the appeals process.

Mr. Merrell said the number of people who signed the petitions Sunday hasn’t been tabulated, although 75 members of his congregation signed.

“The churches want to help,” but Hellweg and the school board won’t discuss it with them, Mr. Merrell said.

The board and the ministers have no meeting scheduled.

Hellweg has maintained that discipline is decided on a case-by-case basis.

yovich@vindy.com