Gateway board, superintendent defend revised safety plan at Moss Side Middle School

Facing criticism from parents, the Gateway School Board of Directors defended a revised safety plan put in place at Moss Side Middle School following increased incidents of fighting.

A letter sent to parents Nov. 19 outlined several changes designed to “maintain our discipline standards and eliminate some of the problems that have been occurring on an all-too-regular basis as of late.”

The adjustments include an implementation of closed periods, an introduction of a paper hall pass system and increased staff presence at strategic hallway locations.

“It’s easy to state the obvious, which is there’s no acceptable amount of violence or fights on buses, or in hallways or in the cafeteria,” said Jack Bova, board president, during a meeting Dec. 7. “If there were a simple, reliable way of making that happen, it would’ve been done already.”

A dean of students could be introduced but would require school board approval.

Several parents voiced concerns at the Dec. 7 meeting, mostly about the idea of closed periods and paper hall passes limiting bathroom breaks throughout the school week.

Gateway administration couldn’t be reached to explain what the closed periods entailed.

Janette Beighel, who has three children in the district, was among those parents with questions for the board.

“A couple weeks ago, we got a letter from Moss Side Middle School pertaining to the exorbitant amount of fights that were happening. … I emailed the principals asking for clarification on what a dean of students is. Is this an administrative position? Is this a teacher we’re asking to fill in this role? I have failed yet to hear what that was. I asked what closed periods were. I did not get anything from that. My children’s understanding is they are not to use the bathroom, not allowed to leave the room during periods. They now have a hall pass they’re allowed to use 15 times, from their understanding, in a nine-week period,” Beighel said.

Bova and William Short, district superintendent, said some revision may be needed, but Bova added further action would be considered if necessary.

“If there are any resources left for us to find, we’re going to find them,” Bova said. “If there are any efforts we haven’t made to solve this problem, we’re going to make them. If we can’t make our school safe, then the rest of it is pretty much immaterial. By and large, this school is as safe as any school like this. The statistics back that up. We’re going to do better. If we don’t, somebody else will be sitting up here in a couple of years.”

Short seconded Bova’s sentiments while saying he does not believe the problem is limited to Gateway. The issue is countrywide, Short said, as students transition back to the classroom during the covid-19 pandemic.

“Kids are having a difficult time adjusting. But I can assure you, we are utilizing our resources accordingly, especially some of the pandemic funds,” Short said. “Some students who move from a fourth-grade level, in two years have not seen a physical classroom interacting with children. All of a sudden, they’re moved into that hallway and into that classroom.

After the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued a ruling Dec. 10 voiding the K-12 public school masking order from Alison Beam, acting commonwealth health secretary, Short wrote a letter to parents Dec. 12 announcing the district would become mask optional. A mask requirement remains for students and drivers on buses.

“As we come out of covid, this has been an ongoing pandemic, not only in terms of the virus itself, but acclimating our students to the classroom again, to the norms that they had been accustomed to,” Short said. “Entering classrooms year after year after year. With teachers providing them the information that they need to learn in a safe and secure environment. All that has changed as we’ve come out of covid.”