West Cook News

A rise in students physically assaulting other students, students physically assaulting teachers and staff, non-physical bullying, leaving and returning the classroom and school property without authorization, students locking teachers and other students out of classrooms, and teachers disciplined by administrators for intervening, are some first-hand examples of student behavior and failed school policy given by Oak Park District 97 teachers at last week’s board meeting.

“It’s absurd,” said middle school social worker Hannah Boudreau after citing instances where staff are disciplined, investigated and sent home for trying to keep students safe, while the instigators are allowed to stay in class.

Public comment at the school board meeting on May 28 lasted one hour and 46 minutes while 21 teachers, parents, and grandparents gave examples of abhorrent student behavior and failed disciplinary policy. Of the 21 comments, 13 came from District 97 teachers, mostly from the Gwendolyn Brooks and Percy Julian middle schools.

In total, the meeting lasted four and a half hours with District Superintendent Dr. Ushma Shah responding near the end by saying, “some things need to crack open for new things to grow” and promoting, “universal student success,” while avoiding student behavior, discipline and safety concerns. 

Some in the audience shouted, “not even close” and “for two hours we talked about safety.” Many walked out.

Boudreau began her remarks by noting that her brother, a former public school administrator who now works in youth education for the Department of Corrections, said their family should be more concerned about his sister’s safety than his.

The primary problem is that violent students are not held accountable and face no consequences for their actions.

“There is no real restorative practices,” she said.

Boudreau said that teachers and staff do not feel safe and fear losing their jobs over reporting violent actions.

“This is madness,” she said.

She also claimed that when a student is suspended, attendance records sent to the State Board of Education are altered to indicate the student’s absence was due to “vacation” or “mental health.”

Cell phone usage is the common factor involved in all school fights, she said.

Students post scheduled fights on social media so their friends can “vote” for who won, she said as example.

Cell phone notifications received by students are also rampant, with one teacher having determined that a class of 20 received more than 700 notices in one day.

Boudreau recommends implementing a policy where students’ cell phones are kept in lock pouches for the school day – a purchase she suggested would cost a school $60,000. She said it would improve student performance, while also improving their mental health.  

“Shut it down,” she said of unchecked student cell phone usage.

Boudreau also had a message for school administrators: “Relocate administrative offices to actual schools. Be present with us.”

“The adults need to step up and lead,” she said.