[Bella_Bru]

I just called the Muscogee County School District Super's office. They said he is getting ready to give a statement. They didn't know the particulars of the case originally. They were not informed by the Prinicipal at Spencer High that the boy was talking to his mom who was calling from Iraq. They are very upset over the actions taken at Spencer High.

Looks like a little CYA is about happen.

[Navy Patriot]

Re #90: Bravo Bella_Bru

[joebellis]

Statement from School district:

MUSCOGEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

MEDIA RELEASE

MEDIA RELEASE FROM DR. JOHN A. PHILLIPS, JR..

SUPERINTENDENT

MUSCOGEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

The Muscogee County School District has over 3700 military students enrolled. We have a long and strong relationship with Ft. Benning. Spencer High School has the greatest number of military students of any of our schools. All of our counselors have received training in supporting students whose parents have been deployed, and military personnel serve as Partners in Education in over half of our schools.

When the Spencer teacher approached the young man about using a cell phone on campus, contrary to Board of Education policy which is designed to preserve instructional time and decorum in our schools, the young man did not tell the teacher he was speaking to his mother in Iraq. He indicated he would not comply with a request to turn over his cell phone and used profanity. The teacher escorted the young man to the office, where assistant principals tried to get him to calm himself and to cease the use of profanity. It was only at this point that administrators learned he was talking to his mother in Iraq.

The Guidance Department at Spencer High School has arranged for a number of students to receive calls from parents who are deployed. They would have been happy to do this for this young man. The issue here was not so much the use of the cell phone as it was the choices the young man made in handling the situation. We are empathetic to all students whose parents serve in the armed forces; we do have behavior standards which we uphold.

The school has been in touch with personnel from Ft. Benning. We are endeavoring to have the young man readmitted after a three day suspension, which was the first option for him. It was only after greater defiance and profanity that the suspension was extended. We will ask that the student and his guardian sign a behavior contract indicating that he will comply with the same standards of behavior which apply to all of our students. We will continue to be sensitive to the needs of students whose parents serve our country.

06 May 2005

Contact: Dr. Billy Kendall – (706) 649-0514 – bkendall@mcsdga.net

[Robert_Paulson2]

you go girl...