John Howe for Scranton

As we kick off the new school year I think it is important to share some info! Please know your rights as a parent with a child on the spectrum or in need of an IEP or 504.

Remember that in certain circumstances a Personal Care Assistant is required for students in order to comply with the FAPE mandate in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This is at NO COST to the family!

If these rights are not granted to your student, or you feel that your rights as a parent are violated, you MUST speak up. Nobody is going to advocate for your student as much as you. Be their voice and if you have any questions, I will be happy to help you!

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This week, I want to discuss safety, accountability, and appropriate punishments for behavior in our schools.

Who can remember the days when schools enforced actual punishments? If a student showed up late for a certain number of days, they received detention. If there was a fight, it often resulted in immediate suspension. I recall attending Frances Willard, where I would sometimes end up sitting in Mr. Parris' office waiting for my parents to pick me up when I misbehaved.

Gone are the days of Zero Tolerance policies. What deterrents exist for students who don’t follow the rules? I witnessed a group of kids fighting at one of our football games two seasons ago. I volunteered to help keep an eye on the situation to ensure that our community could enjoy the game without fear of violence. As we attempted to deescalate the situation and walk the offending students away, the fight spilled into the middle of the street. The Scranton Police responded quickly and tried to break it up, but the students showed no concern for the authority of law enforcement and made that clear to me on multiple occasions.
Where did the fear of getting into trouble during a school event go, especially while throwing profanities at the police? It certainly seems that some students do not care.

Unlike some of our city leaders, I recognize that gangs have a significant influence on our youth. Take, for instance, the recent incident involving a student who was kidnapped, stripped of some possessions, and then dropped off in Skyview. This student later saw one of the perpetrators at school, resulting in an altercation inside the building. One of the offenders, an 18-year-old former student and gang member, has been described as someone who didn’t take school seriously. This individual manipulates other minors, and this attitude definitely permeates our schools. So, why are we not taking a serious look at this issue instead of just putting a band-aid on it, like placing plywood over broken classroom doors?

Our students deserve a safe school environment, and teachers have the right to feel safe every time they enter the building. Our School Resource Officers can only do so much. We need stricter policies to address these concerns. Yes, we are working to secure the buildings against outside threats, but what are we doing about the dangers that exist alongside our sons and daughters once those doors are secured?