HUDSON, N.Y. - If two principals can't get along, how are students supposed to get along? That's the question many parents and staff members asked Monday night at an emergency school board meeting for the Hudson City School District.
Last week, high school co-principals Thomas Gavin and Steven Spicer got into an argument during a school board meeting. Most staff and parents and administration want to put last week's fight in the past and shift the focus back to the students, where it belongs.
"At some point, it needs to become confidential. That's what we tell our students: keep your personal issues out of the building," said a teacher at the high school.
Steven Spicer sat quietly during the emergency meeting. He was able to keep his position as principal, while Gavin now will work in a district office.
Superintendent John Howe briefly touched on the topic, but told the crowd he'd deal with "personnel issues" behind closed doors. The public comment portion of the meeting focused on another huge concern -- the 13 fights in the high school this year.
"The parents in this school district, need to get off their rump and take a little responsibility and try helping and guiding their children," said Robert Rockler, the high school safety officer.
Possible ways to combat fighting and bullying in the schools were outlined, including peer mediation, instituting a re-entry plan for suspended students, the use of behavior contracts and improving and building community and parental support.
Superintendent Howe started off the meeting saying if talk could solve all these problems, there wouldn't be any. He's hoping to implement some of the suggestions that everyone talked about and have an update at the next meeting, scheduled for December 13th.
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