MARYSVILLE – A consultant is recommending Marysville-Pilchuck High School close its campus, require student identification badges and do more to combat perceptions of racism.
Strategic Educational Investments of Seattle visited the campus twice in March when it made observations, reviewed school documents and interviewed 37 students, 11 staff members, six parents and 11 leaders from the Tulalip Tribes.
The company’s findings and recommendations, covering everything from student access to drugs to disaster preparedness, were shared with the Marysville School Board on Monday night.
“Although many students said they personally felt safe at the school, they acknowledged that they were aware that many other students did not feel safe and were subject to harassment, name calling and racial slurs,” the report says.
The consultants also expressed concern with shortcomings in the 2,500-student high school’s emergency procedures plan.
Principal Tracy Van Winkle, in her first year at the school, told the school board she asked for the report even though she knew it could result in negative perceptions being aired. She said she has observed unwanted behaviors on campus, such as students from different races forming groups that could be construed as gangs.
She also was troubled by the reception some students received earlier this year when they went into classrooms to guide discussions on the school’s decision to ban the chant that accompanies the school’s “Tomahawk Chop” cheer. Some American Indian students had found the cheer offensive.
“Kids presented, and they came back weeping,” Van Winkle said.
The principal said she will ask the board for backing over the next three years as the school makes changes, including tightening student access on and off the campus.
“Closed campus is going to be an issue I really need your backing and support on,” she told the board.
Among other things, the consultants suggested the school:
* Develop a consistent method of communication for students, staff and parents.
* Close the campus so all cars entering the grounds are checked for identification at the gates. Gates to student parking areas would be closed after the start of school and their access regulated.
* Increase security and reinstate a school police officer.
* Get more training in cultural diversity for staff and administration.
* Better coordinate the school’s leadership team.
* Enforce rules already in place that are not adhered to, such as a dress code.
It also suggested rerouting some bus routes, pointing out that some American Indian students are spending more than an hour on the bus on the way to school after boarding about 6 a.m.
Julius Johnson, a former school administrator and president of the consulting firm, said he saw many good things at the school as well.
“It’s not doom and gloom,” he said. “It’s a matter of recognizing shortcomings that need to be addressed as well.”
Van Winkle said the school is working on a plan to address the issues raised in the report. Those responses will be phased in over three years.
“I hope, hope, hope we will get to … a better place,” she said.
Interim Superintendent Paul Sjunnesen told the board it should do similar studies at its other schools. He suggested the financially strapped district seek grants once a plan is in place.
“We need to deal with this at a much younger age,” he said. “It’s a developmental process we need to work on sooner.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
