Back to the Basics

Sometimes we think that we need to reinvent the wheel. Sometimes, the answer is as simple as a phone call away.

Pinellas school officials acknowledge that student behavior is an issue, but they say they're working hard on new ways to tame unruly students.

Early in the school year, the two directors of school operations for high schools meet with each principal to identify goals based on data. One school might choose to reduce its number of referrals for defiance and insubordination, for example, while another might decide to reduce its out-of-school suspension rate.

The district gives each school leeway to choose a discipline program it thinks will work best. Some schools, including Countryside High, have ninth-grade learning communities that help kids transition from middle school. Several others, including Dixie Hollins High, have adopted a program called Positive Behavior Support that concentrates on preventing unwanted behaviors and building relationships.

At Lakewood, where in-school suspensions topped 1,378 last year, administrators decided to adopt a detention program that requires kids who are repeatedly defiant or disrespectful to stay on campus until as late as 6 p.m. under the supervision of two classroom teachers.

Concern over a high number of referrals — 3,100 in 2007-08 — led Lakewood officials to begin requiring teachers to contact parents when kids commit less serious offenses like being tardy and using obscene language.

But school principal Dennis Duda says there's more to it than enforcing rules. It's easy to punish, Duda says. What he's looking for is a change in behavior.



Duda, who has been principal at Lakewood for four years, makes it a point to be visible on campus. During class changes, he stands in the school's hub, checking for dress code violations and electronic devices.

He requires teachers to be visible as well, stationing them at classroom doors to curtail any rowdy behavior before it has a chance to come inside with the students.

When the final bell rings, all doors are shut and locked, forcing students to knock to get in. Duda says the practice has reduced tardiness considerably.

He likes the fact that most of the school's 1,575 students live in the area, which has a long-standing reputation for being economically and culturally diverse.

And despite a decrease in diversity among the student population, he thinks the return to a neighborhood school system has been good for Lakewood, knitting the community together and increasing the opportunity for parental involvement.

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