Geary USD 475 Board of Education members received information this week from district staff on the increase in student discipline issues this school year. Student behavior challenges at the secondary level schools in Junction City are leading District leaders to look at creation of a grades 6-12 alternative program at the HD Karns Building.
To support that effort the Board approved the hiring of an assistant principal and four core teachers.
Thomas Wesoloski, current Interim Director of Student Support Service, explained to the Board that many students get sent to the Karns Building that have had major offenses at City Middle School or Junction City High School. "Our goal is to increase the numbers of the high school alternative program up to about 100 or 120. "The same way with the middle school kids. We're looking at probably between 50 and 70 students that have caused the majority of the issues at Junction City Middle School." Wesoloski added that will allow officials to help those students change their ways, be taught with a new SEL curriculum and get back in the Middle School at a time when officials believe the students have figured out to behave and have learned strategies to maintain themselves.
During an explanation on the need for the additional staff, Wesoloski said "it gets very dangerous in the Karns Building,"and referring to the students needing the alternative program noted, "The caliber of students that are there are not like anything I've ever seen before. There is no respect for anyone from these children, and so we need to do what's in the best interest of these students and in the best interest of this District. Because I don't want to see a lawsuit coming in because somebody got hurt because we just didn't have enough staff there." Wesoloski explains officials need to gain control over the students in order to get them to graduate.