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Plan calls for East students to return in phases
By Denise Dick
YOUNGSTOWN
Classes resume at East High School today, but the full student body won’t return to school until next week.
“We’re going to phase them back in a little at a time,” said Stephen Stohla, interim superintendent.
Students were dismissed early Tuesday, and there were no classes Wednesday after a fight among a few students spread into several scuffles in the building.
Police responded and used chemical spray to break up the fracas. Four students face changes.
East seniors return to school today.
Those students, who will take required state tests next week, will be instructed in “intense conflict resolution,” Stohla said.
At the same time, those students will get intense tutoring to prepare them for the tests, he said.
“They’re the oldest. Hopefully, they’ll set an example,” the interim superintendent said.
On Friday, juniors will join the seniors in the building. Sophomores and freshmen return Monday.
“We’re working on making them understand what’s going to be expected henceforth,” Stohla said.
Students have to behave appropriately, he said.
“It’s a double-edged sword,” Stohla said. “You don’t want to suspend them.”
If students are suspended from school, they’re not learning, he reasons.
But those who are disruptive also can’t be allowed to obstruct the education of others, Stohla said.
“Children who violate policy have to be removed from a situation and put in a better place where they can be successful,” he said.
Police Lt. Ramon Cox, who is heading the investigation into the series of fights, said charges are expected to be finalized today against four people still in custody.
Five people were taken into custody Tuesday but one of those people was released later Tuesday, Cox said.
Although several people complained about police using chemical spray to break up the fights and disperse the crowd at Tuesday’s school board meeting, the department has yet to receive a formal complaint, said Lt. Brian Butler, head of the department’s Internal Affairs Division.
East administrators will be provided what they request to help them prevent similar problems, the superintendent said.
He expects the school board to approve future measures to upgrade the security cameras throughout the district.
East and Choffin Career and Technical Center would see the updates next school year with the other buildings to follow in the next two years.
“It will be covering more areas of the school with up-to-date equipment that works,” he said.
School board members Jackie Adair and Dario Hunter have requested a special board meeting March 24 at East, to hear from parents.
Adair called it a summit.
Brenda Kimble, board president, however, said that meeting hasn’t been scheduled. She believes Adair is scheduling the meeting at the behest of the Youngstown Chapter of the NAACP.
NAACP representatives have requested a special meeting at the school to discuss problems at East.
“If they’re concerned about all of the buildings, why are they so focused on having it in that building rather than at a central location?” Kimble said.
She said Hunter and Adair are aligned with NAACP leadership which supports the Youngstown Plan, legislation that calls for a chief executive officer to manage the school district.
“I think it’s sad that board members are focused on themselves and personal gains for one special organization instead of being focused on moving our district forward,” Kimble said.