School Expulsions Drop
By MARC VALERO

SEBRING — Disruptions are down, alcohol and threats to board employees are on the decline, and school expulsion recommendations for drugs have been cut nearly in half.

The number of Highlands County public school students who have committed serious offenses resulting in expulsion recommendations has dropped by one-third compared to last year.

The district’s random student drug testing program, which was implemented at the high schools this school year, accounts for a significant part of the decline in expulsion recommendations, school officials said.

At this time last year 20 high school students had been recommended for expulsion because of drug-related incidents. The number this year is five, Student Services Coordinator Rodney Hollinger said.
But, even without counting the drug data, the expulsion recommendations dropped by 27 percent.

Lake Placid High School Principal Ruth Heckman said the newly-introduced Freshman Foundation for ninth-graders has also helped at her school.

Drug testing is obviously a deterrent, Heckman said. “It enables our kids to say no when they have peer pressure.”

But the Freshman Foundation, where a portion of the faculty and staff focus on ninth-graders (at all the high schools), have been a big plus as ninth-graders are usually the biggest offenders, Heckman added.

The foundation’s teachers received extra training for the Capturing Kids Hearts program and the teachers meet weekly to discuss issues, including discipline.

Foundation teachers have more contact with parents, and students have more contact with a guidance counselor, Heckman said. One counselor works solely with the Freshman Foundation.

Districtwide, the actual number of expulsion recommendations dropped from 65 to 43.

Positive Results At Sebring Middle School
A school-wide initiative started about two years ago, Positive Behavioral Support, which rewards
good behavior, has helped improve discipline at Sebring Middle School, according to Assistant Principal Chris Doty.

“Right now our discipline [issues] are also down,” Doty said. But, “This last nine weeks after FCAT [Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test] the kids tend to get a little more excited because they think the school year is almost over.”

Doty believes expanding the random student drug testing to the middle schools is a good idea.

“Kids are going to have access to drugs whether they are at the high school or middle school,” he said. “When we have those deterrents in place it does make a difference.”

The school’s video surveillance system is also a deterrent for a lot of things, Doty said. “They know that there are cameras and that tends to limit some of the behavior.”

Aside from drug testing and surveillance, there’s a bigger element that makes a difference with discipline, Doty believes.

“I think it is the relationship that we have with kids. Those relationships are very, very important for kids to feel connected to their school. If they feel connected then they’re more likely to avoid those behaviors that are unpleasant.”