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SCHENECTADY
$6.27M to help cut school violence
‘Persistently dangerous’ facility gets federal grant funds
BY MICHAEL GOOT Gazette Reporter

    The effort to restructure Schenectady High School got a boost Wednesday with the awarding of a $6.27 million federal grant to reduce violent incidents.
    “We’re elated,” said Associate Superintendent Gary Comley. “We were looking at ways of cutting millions of dollars out of the budget. We didn’t know where it was going to come from. Right now, it’s a big help to us.”
    The U.S. Department of Labor grant is for schools that have been designated “persistently dangerous.” The state Education Department placed Schenectady on this list in August 2008 because of an unacceptably high number of violent incidents. School officials had planned to apply in the spring to get off the list for next year.
    The high school is also in the middle of planning for restructuring because of its poor academic performance and low graduation rate of 57 percent last year.
    This money can help with both efforts. The funds will be used for guidance counselors and social workers for ninth-graders, more truant officers and anti-bullying programs, according to Comley.
    Freshman year is critical, Comley said, because some students struggle with the transition from middle school to high school and the increased academic expectations that come with it. For example, 147 of last year’s freshmen are repeating the grade this year. .........>>>>........>>>>.............http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01101&AppName=1

147 freshmen are REPEATING ... wow. talk about SERIOUSLY wrong.

Makes you really want to send your kids to that school district.

how many come from ND's school.....

throwing money at this wont fix anything.  the problems with the schools start at home.  when my kids started school they knew there abc's, basic math, and basic reading.  some of these kids english is their second language and they can barely read or write their own name.  school at this level is meant to refine the basics not teach from scratch.  they get pushed through the system.  sad sad sad sad sad......

  

When there's no discipline in school, learning does not occur. It's time to eliminate the ones who don't want to learn so that the ones who do want to learn can be taught.

I say send in the paddler......paddling has nothing to do with socio-economic standing.....it's pretty equal with all......however, if 'the Raucci's' and the likes continue to be in charge, we're screwed...

dont tell me no one on the upper decks didn't see/hear anything.......apathy kills.....and it's apparent by this article.....

What a waste of money. Should go to schools that actually educate. Can't believe teachers are being let go because of budgetary constraints and this school gets 6 mill. What are they going to do put metal detectors at every door. Use rent-a-cops and pat down every student. This is appalling to give this money for this reason, What is this nation coming too?

Well if its persistently dangerous than they need to invest in the school to make it safe for other kids.  This is a sad state of affairs.

You can make it safer by eliminating the problem students from the troubled schools.

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Should we reward Schenectady High for bad behavior?
March 18, 2010 at 1:49 pm by Joseph Chaparro

What should we do with our troubled students at Schenectady High School to improve their performance?

According to News 10, Schenectady High School will be getting millions of dollars to increase the graduation rate from what it currently is, 50%.

That’s right!  The high school made the “persistently dangerous list” and has been on it for 2 years.  The money will come from the U.S Department of Labor.

But my question is, do we reward schools for bad behavior?

I think the issue lies with bullying, violent students and students who just don’t think about their futures.

When I was in Schenectady High School, it was considered cool to cut school, smoke weed and do other bad things.  I think we need to give these kids some news inspiration.  They need to start thinking about their futures.  I think if the school had a variety of guest speakers in different career backgrounds, students may have a new found inspiration.  Speakers giving speeches from backgrounds including Journalism, medical field, music and criminal justice could really uplift the students spirits.  The key is volunteer guest speakers.

Here’s to the great future of Schenectady High School.

http://blog.timesunion.com/schenectady/