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DPS61 holds community meeting to address violence and fighting in middle and high schools

Feb 1, 2024 | 7:13 PM

February 1, 2024 – It takes a village. That was the message during a community meeting hosted by Decatur Public Schools Thursday at the Main Street Church of the Living God to discuss the fighting and violence happening within DPS61 schools. 

Decatur Superintendent Dr. Rochelle Clark hosted the forum and invited DPS staff, community and church leaders, as well as organizations to discuss the issue as well as provide more details on the district’s zero-tolerance policy that has led to a series of expulsions. There have been a total of 23 expulsions at DPS61 this school year. 

“I’ve had enough,” Clark said. “Even though 23 students expelled out of almost 8,000 doesn’t seem like a lot, it’s still too many.” 

One of the most recent incidents involved a fight at Stephen Decatur Middle School during dismissal that not only included students but parents as well. Decatur Police Chief Shane Brandel, who was present at the forum, stated that the parents involved would be arrested and charged. 

Clark added that lack of parental responsibility and involvement is a big part of the problem. “We need to reach those families and students to curb that behavior. We have to make them parent“

Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe added that it may start in the home, but it is a community problem. “I don’t know how we get the parents to do their job, but it is their job, and we have to figure this out.” The Mayor added that there are no excuses anymore.  “We need these kids to get an education, to grow up, to do these jobs, and to have a life,” she said. “There are no excuses. If somebody needs assistance, with whatever it is, additional training, additional help, they’re there, but you have to ask.”

Overseer Thomas Walker, pastor of Main Street Church of the Living God, said It takes a village to raise a child, but it takes the church to raise the village. “Where does it start? It starts at home. For kids to come to school and do what they did the other day, we need to look at the situation and we need to deal with our families.”

Caring Black Men founder Jeffrey Perkins agreed that the problems start in the home.  “Those parents are afraid of those children. The teachers are afraid of the parents. The district is afraid of the superintendent. The school board is afraid of the community. And guess what? Those kids ain’t afraid of nothing. That’s why they’re fighting.”

Currently, Decatur Public Schools have 36 security people and SROs. The district has already tripled its security since February of last year. Clark said that she has discussed adding additional SROs to the schools and the Mayor has agreed. 

Clark said that added security is not enough and put out a plea for the community to get involved and be part of the solution. DPS61 is asking community members, companies, and organizations to adopt a school and take opportunities to mentor students. 

Bishop James A. Wills, President of Illinois Pastors Coalition, said it “was a time for action. “Here in Decatur we are working together, we are fighting together and we are going to win together too.”