|
Update
The following article appeared in today's Chicago Tribune. The task force proposal is controversial--people currently involved with youth in the community believe it is too big to be effective. The hope is that they'll break themselves into smaller groups to tackle specific issues.
I was not surprised to see buried in the story that Keith Babb, the school board member who's son watched the melee, resigned from the Board. I think it's an appropriate action on his part.
>>>>
Hazing task force approved
Glenbrook North district agrees to study teen issues
By Lisa Black
Tribune staff reporter
Published June 10, 2003
School board members who want to prevent a repeat of a May 4 hazing that embarrassed Northbrook approved forming a task force Monday night to study a number of teen-related issues such as bullying, drinking and parental responsibilities.
The group could begin its work as early as June 25 and will be asked to prepare recommendations by Dec. 1 that administrators will use to formulate policies or rules aimed at curbing undesirable behavior.
The action by the Northfield Township High School District 225 board that oversees Glenbrook North High School, whose students were involved in the hazing, came after it refused on May 27 to adopt a plan passed by the Northbrook Village Board.
School board members said Monday that their earlier concerns about the task force's mission and representation had been addressed. They had wanted the panel to include members from Glenbrook South High School in Glenview and Glenview village officials.
The task force also would include Northbrook officials, police, teen counselors and drug specialists, parents and students.
Northbrook Village Manager John Novinson, who is helping organize the task force, attended the school board meeting. He and District 225 Supt. Dave Hales will oversee the task force.
"We won't try to reinvent the wheel. There is no pure, easy answer," Novinson said.
School board member Donna Rose Torf said she thought it was important that the board endorse the task force.
Novinson estimated the cost at $7,500 for a person to moderate the task force, prompting board member Thomas Shaer to propose a resolution requesting that the county reimburse the board out of fines or settlements collected from students in the hazing case. The resolution passed 6-0.In a surprise, board member Keith Babb resigned by letter, stating that his decision was due to family circumstances. He did not vote on hazing matters because his son was at the hazing.
Glenbrook North officials have expelled 31 seniors, suspended three seniors and disciplined 20 juniors for their roles in the off-campus hazing on Cook County Forest Preserve District property. None of the expelled students was allowed to attend Sunday's graduation after being banned from school grounds, but 29 who signed an agreement with the district received diplomas.
The students who signed the waiver agreed to participate in counseling and community service. They also are barred from pursuing legal action against the district or from benefiting commercially from the hazing. Sixteen seniors who face misdemeanor charges in connection with the hazing are scheduled to appear in Cook County Circuit Court in Skokie on Wednesday. Two parents charged with supplying kegs of beer or providing a place for underage drinking also are scheduled in court.
The seniors were caught on videotape punching, kicking and throwing objects at junior girls at Chipilly Woods in Northbrook, sending five teens to the hospital.
|
Threaded Mode