A School Board meeting was in session last night discussing the motion to approve a new rule that requires students who have disciplinary problems during the school week. This proposal would require an allocation of about $3,000 per year for staffing.
A parent, Peggy Bacon, spoke up on how she did not think the proposal was a good idea.
"I work six days a week--including Saturday morning-- and its bad enough to get my son off to school Monday through Friday," said Bacon. "Why should I have to worry about Saturday as well? I'm not going to force him to go. Its not going to make any difference, and we are going to pay higher taxes as well for it."
Steele responded that the new disciplinary measure is being proposed in an effort to reduce the number of in-house suspensions. In-house suspensions are given to students caught smoking inside or outside of Portsmouth High School.
Lisa Gallagher, a senior at Portsmouth High School who has never served a detention in her 12 years in school, also spoke against the new rule.
"I think its being done to make life easier for the faculty, so they don't have to deal with detentions during the week," said Gallagher. "What if someone wants to skip a session? What are they going to do, make them stay all weekend."
Steele responded that if a student skips a Saturday session, he or she will not be allowed to return to school until the detention has been served.
Resident Bob Farley of Portsmouth said he liked the idea of the new rule.
"Parents can whine all they want about this," said Farley. "Maybe its time parents in America were made to take a little responsibility for their kids."
The board voted 5-3 at the end of the meeting with one member abstaining to table the issue until their next meeting March 7. Steele was instructed to return at that time with figures on in-school detentions so far this year.
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