County schools' report: Arlee

ARLEE — Within the next month, the Leader will take a brief look at each school within Lake County, using statistics from the Office of Public Instruction’s most recent reports, mainly the Discipline Violations Report. At the end of every year, all public schools nationwide send the OPI various in-school reports.

The DVR reflects school discipline incidents that resulted in suspensions and expulsions; the definitions are subject to the school’s interpretation, yet a glossary of definitions for all offenses is provided by the OPI and serves as a reference guide for schools.

In most cases the reported violations do not reflect court-prosecuted crimes. Most incidents are handled within the school, by means of suspension or expulsion.

This week’s focus is Arlee schools. Based on the 2006-2007 OPI Enrollment Report: Arlee’s total K-8 student enrollment was 221, while high school student enrollment totaled 115. Both K-8 and the high school passed the Adequate Yearly Progress standards in the 2006-2007 year report, and according to OPI documents, the high school has a 95 percent graduation rate.

In the OPI’s DVR, Arlee elementary had a total of four aggravated assault cases – more than any elementary school in the district. The middle school saw a total of three aggravated assault cases – tied with Ronan for the most in the district, and one report of drug use. The high school saw one incident of aggravated assault – tied with Charlo high school for the most within Lake County – as well as two incidents of drug use, and one incident of theft.

Middle school and high school principal Jim Taylor was not with the district during the years encompassed by the report, but said when crimes occur on campus, students are suspended from school, and multiple offenders may be expelled. There has been one expulsion this year, he said.

School Resource Officer, Steve Kendley, said he doesn’t believe the OPI reports are an accurate reflection of what occurs inArlee.

“I don’t recall a single aggravated assault there,” Kendley said of the 26 months he’s been at the school.

He went on to say OPI’s definition of “aggravated assault” seems different than the “aggravated assault” as stipulated by Montana law. Taylor echoed Kendley’s surprise at the number of assaults, going on to reflect on the present year.

Taylor said there have been no middle school fights this year, yet a few fights within the high school. He said there have been no drug violations.

“But it’s probably out there happening,” Taylor said, of students using drugs. He went on to say there have been a few thefts of iPods and cell phones this year.

“Overall our kids are good kids,” Taylor said. “They just have to be told that. There are no bad kids, there’s just kids that make bad choices.”

Taylor said the school looks within itself to create programs geared at keeping students from undesirable behavior. Such programs include the GEAR UP program, and mentorship opportunities of upperclassmen to underclassmen.

“We have a good senior class that did leadership groups,” Taylor said.

Along with a steady senior class, he said Kendley also helps deter crime.

“This week he talked to the classes about due process and search and seizure,” he said.

Kendley said his primary purpose on the school grounds is to serve as a law enforcement officer, and secondarily as a counselor and instructor when circumstances permit.

“I’ve been privileged to work here,” Kendley said. “An officer’s presence is the first level of deterrence. I’m not there for discipline, the principals take care of their discipline.”

This year the sheriff’s department has cut the number of SROs within the county by one, due to budget reasons. Kendley now has three school districts to patrol as a result – Arlee, St. Ignatius and Charlo.

“I try to be at every school every day and not be predictable,” Kendley said of the times he visits the schools. He said he was the first SRO in uniform at Arlee schools.

“The kids used to say ‘What’s wrong? Why’s there a police officer here?’” Kendley said. “Now they say ‘Hey, will you sit with me?’”

He went on to say he enjoys working at Arlee, and said the children are among the kindest and most friendly he’s met.

Kendley said Arlee schools have zero tolerance for drugs, alcohol and weapons. He said there have been between three to four minor crimes this year that he has been called to assist with.

High school physical education teacher Susan Carney-Lammerding said she would like to see more drug resistance programs within the school.

“I wish the school would become more focused on red ribbon week,” she said. “Arlee schools used to go out of their way to provide education, and they’ve gotten lax.”

She said she is glad the school hosted speaker Willie Wright in late September. She said he gave a great presentation to students, in which he cited statistics that showed adults who take their first taste of alcohol at age 8 are 16 percent more likely to become alcoholics than if they wait until they’re 21 for their first drink.

Carney-Lammerding also said the Montana Community Change Project helps to create awareness within the community about teenage drinking. She said the program provides training for sellers of liquor and makes them especially careful not to sell to minors.

“Regardless,” she went on to say, “Our kids need to hear about methamphetamines, because the problem doesn’t go away.”

Elementary school principal, Lisa Miller, was not available for comment before going to press.