Police calls at Green Bay’s Washington Middle School are down nearly 50 percent for the first two months of school, compared to the same time last year, according to police records.
The school was in the spotlight over the summer, after sixth grade teacher Kerstin Westcott resigned, citing school safety concerns. Incidents during the 2016-2017 school year included a student with brass knuckles at school, a student’s pants pulled down in the hallway, and staff routinely chasing an unruly student through school, according to police reports.
The Green Bay Area Public School District’s superintendent, Dr. Michelle Langenfeld, pledged that the school would improve.
This year, there were 27 police calls at Washington Middle School, 314 S. Baird St., from the first day of school through early November. There is a police call at the school, on average, more than every other school day. Incidents included disturbance and harassment calls. During the same period in 2016, there were 52 calls.
Parents have mixed feelings about the environment at Washington Middle School this year.
“I feel good about her being” at the school, said Ericka Aponte, whose daughter attends Washington.
“She hasn't had any safety issues or anything like that."
Another family’s experience is different.
Talisha said her sixth grade nephew has been bullied at the school. Talisha's family asked that her last name not be used to protect her nephew's identity.
“He’s more… angry toward his siblings at home, because he gets picked on at school,” Talisha said.
A district spokesperson declined to address the family’s claims with a reporter.
District administration over the summer published a new student behavioral chart, outlining consequences for behaviors.
Washington Middle School administration met with students at the beginning of the school year, to lay out behavioral expectations.
There are more police calls at Washington than any other district middle school. During the time period mentioned above, September 5 through November 7, Franklin Middle School had 25, Lombardi Middle School had 20, Edison Middle School had 17, and Red Smith School had 14, according to police records.
The district declined a request for an interview.
