Assuring a safe environment in Bartlesville Public Schools

There are over 1,000 students at Bartlesville Mid-High attending the ninth and tenth grades. It is the first site in our district where all students from the community are mixed together in a specific grade level. As a result, our entire community has a vested interest in the success and safety of students at this site. I want to inform the community about concerns patrons have expressed about safety at the Mid-High School . There have been several stories and rumors filtering through the community recently. I will address some of these stories and share how the Mid-High administration and staff are working together with students, law enforcement and the community to promote a positive and safe learning environment for our Mid-High students.

Out of the 1,000 students, a very small group has been causing some disruption to the learning environment during the school day. There are instances of disturbance caused by students who are grouping together with similar identities and who have made poor choices. This small group of students (approximately 10 to 20) has been involved in a few fights, which were broken up quickly, and one incident of a weapons display violation. There have not been any incidents this year involving firearms or credible bomb threats.

To be specific, there are two groups who have formed a family-like support system. The students are friends and have grouped together for a period of time. These two groups each attempt to draw attention to themselves and have had conflicts with each other during the summer and on the weekends. Some of the incidents have recently spilled over into the school week. While the number of students involved in either group is small, the re-occurring incidents have caused various disruptions during the school day. Some members of the groups have had police or juvenile action taken against them in response to their disruptive behavior.

The administration at the Mid-High School has taken a hardline stance, as is our practice, with these students creating the disruptive behavior. Ten of the students have received short-term suspension as disciplinary actions, and two of the students are no longer in the school system. In addition to these disciplinary actions, in order to communicate the expectations of students and assure safety, the principals have met with students individually and with their parents, made school announcements regarding appropriate behavior and consequences, met with staff to request their supervision and assistance in deterring unacceptable behavior and contacted city police to solicit their advice. For the safety of all our students, we will not tolerate the type of behavior exhibited by these students at Bartlesville Public Schools. Our students are expected to display good behavior on school grounds. Any student who does not abide by the policies outlined in the student handbook will be subject to disciplinary action and potentially police action.

Another example of policy violations includes recent dress code infractions. The Mid-High student handbook clearly states that decorations and/or designs imprinted upon clothing or attached to the body that include messages advocating violence are prohibited. Our administrators have prohibited students from wearing any attire that can be interpreted as supporting any unacceptable group or organization. Not allowing this type of clothing is also assisting in discouraging the negative behavior.

Our Mid-High principal, Jason Langham, and assistant principals, Bron Williams and Travis Lashbrook, are diligently working with their staff to ensure the safety and security of the students. They have a part-time security assistant and 16 security cameras to watch for potential situations, and they have increased the number of teachers who monitor the hallways and park ing lots during the school day. In addition, Police Chief Leo Willey and his staff have been instrumental in assisting the school in keeping an eye on student activity. The police come when requested by the school administration. In addition, to assist with increased supervision, the local police department has assigned their patrol officers to walk the school between their regular calls. The district has just contracted with off-duty police officers to assist with supervision in the building, which is already underway.

Our municipal judge is also working with the district to support our school discipline by allowing school personnel who witness law infractions to report directly to the police, who will then take action to cite students who break the law. If a student receives a municipal citation, they must go to court and can be fined.

Some of the ongoing prevention in all buildings includes a Safe and Drug Free program to educate and provide a safe environment for our students. The purpose of the program is prevention, intervention and referral for counseling. Each school site also has a Safe School Committee composed of students, parents and school personnel who review safety programs, issues and concerns relating to their site and make recommendations to resolve the problems. Another strength of our district is committed and caring school employees. Students with concerns can talk to counselors and teachers before, during, or after school if they feel they are unsafe. They are also encouraged to call the toll-free, confidential Oklahoma Safe Call Helpline (1-877-723-3225 ext. 651) to report situations which they feel may put students in jeopardy at school. According to the State Department of Education, this hotline was “established as a preventive measure to help Oklahoma schools maintain a safe atmosphere and to notify local school officials of potential acts of violence, theft, drug or alcohol abuse, or weapons on campus before they occur.”

We want to encourage students to participate in the many positive clubs and activities that help them develop their talents and personalities. Activities include band, choir, orchestra and numerous athletic teams. In addition, special interest clubs range from business to art, from writing to foreign language clubs. We encourage our students to get involved with their peers in activities that nurture their interests and talents and allow them to express themselves in a positive manner.

The Mid-High School will host a parent meeting on Monday, Sept. 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the Mid-High auditorium. The community is invited to participate in this opportunity to maintain open communication with the district. School officials and community members will be on hand to discuss incidents, rumors and what action is being taken. I want to solicit your assistance to assure we have the safest possible conditions for our young people.