5-Investigates: Washington Middle School Changes

Last school year the school had significant issues that came to light when a teacher resigned in a very public way at a school board meeting. So we're now halfway through the next school year. How has the school staff, students and administration responded?

[@applebytes4105]

If the teacher had not been so courageous and willing to do the job for the board, little of these changes would have happened. So she has to quit to get the big shots to act.

[@jasondavies3736]

Nancy Demary unfortunately, not much changed. Things are more silent to the public.

[@dyfcheer]

There is no way the board was "unaware" of these issues.

[@amandawatts2223]

You’re right. Furthermore, they aren’t even BOTHERED by her emotional testimony.

[@Pammellam]

Do the board of education members get paid? They probably just take the money and don’t really do anything. This fellow seems the same. Only when it goes public and other people know do they pretend to be surprised.

[@jasondavies3736]

They get paid $170ish every two weeks.. Many of them are too busy playing politics to care.

[@jvjustvibes9103]

To be fair we don’t know what their life’s are like. There’s a good chance they work in politics. Politics are a very busy industry

[@mattlynch5591]

Hired a few more low paid staff, called the cops less, and wrote up fewer students. And then called up their buddies the local news and asked them to come investigate. "Yeah, the stats look good here at Washington High". Awesome.

[@Richard-vq7ud]

It is all one big shit show. Nothing will change except the cover up strategies.

[@flyhalfjack]

They never interview the teachers! We have to know what their experience has been like since the changes have been implemented.

[@crystalwalker6496]

Got an excellent point there.

[@jasondavies3736]

As a current school board candidate - too much secrecy occurs.

[@jasondavies3736]

“The board wasn’t aware how serious it had gotten.” - it is the boards responsibility to be aware.

[@gigicolvin6124]

How honest is this "self reporting"? This school board knew that school was in trouble for a long time and did very little.

[@nancyspangler8860]

How about they did nothing. Bring back the wood shed and a paddle. Kids rule because parents don't care, conversations doesn't exist, cell phones and computers have taken over whatever parenting is supposed to be doing. Give it another few years and the kids of the world will pay us back. Crimes, and mayhem will take over and then you will cry in your beer and say "I can't make my kids listen or follow anything I say". It will be too little too late. Good luck! Everyone will look at one another and say " what happened "? No parenting happened, because parents just couldn't be bothered. BOO HOO 😭

[@darkdelta]

How about asking teachers and students if there's been a decrease in violence. Don't ask administrators.

[@wendymarshall7571]

Dark Delta 100% agree. I’m a nurse. That’s like asking management if there’s an ongoing problem of inadequate staffing for nurses(”We’re adequately staffed”) instead of asking the nurses who are taking care of the patients. FYI, we are NEVER adequately staffed!

[@s_1408]

They skew the numbers to fit their narrative.

[@lunasinger2735]

My guess: I highly doubt that within one year things improved that much. Staff was warned not to call police, and overall, the numbers were rigged.

[@judithmatthews8460]

Hope this is accurate but my experience is that authorities put more effort into massaging figures than taking action. So I would find it uncomfortable but not surprising to find there were alternative reporting of incidents. For example if a child committed an aggressive act it could be listed as emotional outburst not something that would attract data recording.

[@yellowmellow4753]

Judith Matthews yup!

[@magacop5180]

Parents basically want you to Raise their kids for them.

[@flydriveride]

That's fine if they want the system to raise the kids they chose to have. They should get the bill and no longer have a voice in how their kid is raised.

[@thewhitedeath586]

Oh really you're going to ask the people responsible for lack of action what action they are taking?

[@TheBashar327]

Suspensions in the hundreds?! That just boggles my mind.

[@rynolascavio3381]

Until kids like this are threatened with pain, they rarely respond.

[@RaisingSaintsAcademy]

Ask the teachers because school boards will force schools to not call police, to not give out detentions, etc. This is what journalism should be, but it should’ve done so prior to the poor teacher having to put her safety at risk! And the news MUST ask the teachers and students known to have strong desire to succeed, ask parents. Don’t just ask the politicalized board members who have the most to lose if no improvements are seen!!

[@isabelspencer5854]

Kristen Westcott has courage. I admire her spunk and intelligence. There are too many politicians and not enough educators in schools. Behavior is just one problem. A non-challenging curriculum that fails to teach accurate American history, the good along with the bad is destroying respect for the country, and a by product of that is lack of respect for others. Right now the public school curriculum is anti-American and pro-socialist. There needs to be a good American Civics component in the education of every student. The ugly and deadly realities of totalitarian systems with socialist economies are not taught. There are no countries or societies with socialism as their economic systems that have not driven their citizens into grinding poverty; and the mass murders committed by governments in the 20th century were all perpetrated by Marxist, or Fascist tyrants who started their dictatorships with socialism and collectivizing the economy. Oh and yes, what about God? Most behavior is driven by morality. How do you teach that if you discriminate against people of faith in public schools? Pitting one race against another is becoming the modus operandi of our politics. Less race baiting and bashing of people for their skin color would help to lower the temperature in some of these schools. It may be a great tactic if you want to run for congress, but it is toxic in a building full of adolescents.

[@nikkiarana]

I wonder if everyone that was interviewed broke their arms patting themselves on the back...weak, not one teacher or parent interviewed. I call BS

[@jasondavies3736]

Nikki A I’ve heard from current staff that not much changed. They are far more quiet though. One must be proactive to be aware. I am currently running for school board in Green Bay. Often assaulted on facebook by those wanting me to stay quiet.

[@nicconley]

Um, this is such a crock. Listen to audio starting at 2:27. "Calls last year totaling 81. Call cut in half at 46 for first semester." WTF? Excuse me, that would total MORE than last year! Schools get funding based on how many students graduate, plain and simple. If they don't move them up every year, the superintendent gets penalized, and their budget gets cut. The sooner they graduate, the sooner they are NOT their problem. THAT is the fact.

[@rickhilliard2545]

May this be added..."Epstein didn't kill himself".

[@marniebrown29]

Did teacher Kerston Westcott return to her school???? You have interviewed board members and what they have done..what have they done for the teacher who SPOKE UP!!

[@workplacewarriordoctorpepp203]

i think she got a much safer job as an uber driver

[@jasondavies3736]

She is a teacher in another district.

[@chellegriggs]

Both my boys went to a high risk senior high school. This school was TOUGH, there were NO athletics, NO tolerance (you didn't get 3 strikes...the first strike and you were OUT) smaller classrooms with more teachers (work at your own pace, some finished well ahead, some needed more academic attention from teachers), the idea was...they were there for the students that wanted to learn, not for the ones that didn't want to be there. They told the students at the beginning, if they didn't act right with respect for EVERYONE, if they didn't TRY, if they didn't WANT to learn....MOVE OVER, because there was a waiting list to get in... By the way, both my son's are now grown with school age children of their own, and their children's schools have fathers volunteer to help in classrooms, because they believe children need the presence of a parent/father figure. And it works.

[@slseym07]

Thank you. They don't want to try this in the public school system though. So you are pretty much stuck in a classroom teaching a bunch of kids who don't care to learn, no matter how engaging you make the content. Administrators blame the poor behavior on "classroom management", despite putting several at risk students in one classroom and giving the "favorite" teachers honors students or kids with fewer behavior problems. I've been doing this for a decade and am this close to leaving the teaching profession altogether.

[@nancyspangler8860]

How dare you.........you are right, however nobody seems to care. Discipline starts at home.

[@vergedrums]

So a middle school is happy that there were only dozens of police interventions on school property in a single semester? A middle school? Pathetic.

[@TheWalkbyfaith413]

If it hadn't been for that courageous teacher, things would be the same right now. I hope that the district keeps working towards a safe environment now that they know we're all watching 🧐

[@dks13827]

Gotta make the school staff and board accountable. They are too dumb. Need to expel the criminal kids and teach the American kids.

[@donnajoseph-barford1076]

No discipline in home or school what do you expect. 1983 they stopped discipline and kids stated to run wild know no consequences. I was a freshman in High School then. I knew by the end of the school year it was going to turn into a nightmare.

[@pops1507]

Right - beef up personnel and, for the love of God, don't toss the bad kids OUT!

[@geoffhorvath3261]

Now wait just a damn minute. The police were called 81 times in the last year and 46 during the following first semester? I fail to see how that's a decrease. That's an increase. The year is only half over.

[@hotnAZ]

if the "kids" do not respect you nothing will change

[@magebomba318]

Cut in half. 81 last year, 46 this first semester. My maths tell me it’s on pace for 92, and I’m curious what the final numbers were.

[@misssarah7195]

Did they drop the numbers by telling teachers and staff not to report? Also why didn't we hear from teachers, other support staff, students, and parents? I am suspicious that any real change has happened.

[@flydriveride]

How many prosecutions of crimes?

[@retiredmusiceducator3612]

I would be interested in how 'sports' played a part in all this. Today, sports is being overused and is taking away the academic achievement potential. Too many games on too many nights. No time to study for kids even if they wanted to. And then, how about music participation. How many of those criminal students were involved in music? High level of proficient music students will help a school build up its academic prowess. We have known that for years... but sports, cell phones, lack of enforced standards... it all adds up to today's liberal leftist students who don't even know how to define socialism... etc. And I am sure, many thanks for the parents who are afraid of their own kids - wanting to make them happy... MUCH of this falls back onto the parents!

[@mrcoog3k832]

What was really behind the drop in numbers?

[@vernskid]

It’s pretty sad that a underpaid, obviously under appreciated teacher had to take a stand when the people in control were useless apparently by letting it get that bad to begin with.

[@retiredmusiceducator3612]

how can a board not even know this stuff is even going on? Are they really that bad? Yupper!

[@jasondavies3736]

Retired Music Educator they choose ignorance. I am running for the board, and the “clique” is constantly insulting online.

[@coyoteken1000]

Every kid deserves an education and I am sure that the state penal institutions can provide one for those students who are more rambunctious.

[@workplacewarriordoctorpepp203]

one solution : make one of the parents sit next to his/her child all day long in classes for about a week........one school did this and it solved the problem. if parents are not involved and students arent expelled, you will have problems. have a squad car outside waiting......show this on an in the classroom camera. kid acts up.....point to the camera. if that doesnt work with them, kick them out and dont hesitate to arrest and deport.

[@binkb7926]

The news reporters should have talked the the Teachers to find out what has really been going on. I have serious doubts about the truthfulness of the District talking heads

[@fingerbang666]

Military style reformatories now!

[@jojoc9240]

Like I said since the beginning don't hold your breath the bureaucrats in charge care about their money and their control nothing else

[@donnajoseph-barford1076]

The best thing a parent can do is home school. Online for college too.

[@dannygrooms593]

peoples jobs were on the line, they had to act.......will see down the road......

[@nightreader1264]

It is called- the central office folks never visited the school.

[@willaimmaxwell5069]

Time for Triage: Weed the garden , so to speak - not just regarding recalcitrant students, but regarding dead wood teachers and administrators to boot!

[@jojoc9240]

God bless that teacher

[@crystalwalker6496]

Glad to hear some positive changes. The 2nd meeting, the school board member speaking after the teacher, said they weren’t aware of how bad things were. I am giving benefit of the doubt why these issues weren’t addressed sooner. But maybe the school board should physically show up at schools or have folks report to them after showing up like a mystery shopper. They should also look at stats. Bureaucracies excel at stats- use them. Look at many areas/ lens. Where are the numbers showing positive and negative changes. Then go experience for yourself. If you don’t feel safe enough to do that, start there. I acknowledge I no longer live in a metro environment. Only went to a Detroit public school from K-4th and this was in the early eighties, when guns in schools (at least mine) wasn’t a problem and Columbine didn’t happen until high school for me. Good luck to all, want to demonize no one and just ask folks to remember schools are for the families.

[@mtz7644]

I go to east high school now but i am now seeing this when I went to washington it was really bad but mrs wescott hepled me though that she was my history teacher and that lady that I was hugging 3:18 was my reading teacher mrs shick I was very greatful for them.

[@jasondavies3736]

GoatZ MTZ thank you for speaking up. I am running for the board to help try and change things. The current board is choosing to ignore students. Its not right.

[@debfryer2437]

Try this as a solution. When the freshmen come in have strict behavior requirements such as walking in single file in silence in hallways. Give an inch and they will take a mile. Children want and need boundaries. Standing to attention when teacher enters the room until he or she is seated. Silence in classroom unless hand raised. Implement a”house” system like in my British grammar school where students are awarded points for good behavior. These points are reported to class prefects and put in a book. They are tallied up each week, month and year and one of the four “houses” (each house has a name and a color) is the winner. This creates friendly competition and a sense of pride and belonging. Bring back school uniforms. Dress standards have been tied to behavior. Ask any actor in a period drama! The behavior of children must be shaped by requiring respect. Authority figures have to be willing to go the distance by following through with consequences. Watch SUPERNANNY! She shows how to restore peace from chaos. It begins with the adults.

[@ianofliverpool7701]

Now try improving still further and keep it that way

[@rynolascavio3381]

Im sure these kids are a mess. But maybe part of the problem is snowflake teachers and their "nice guy" approach to education. Remember, these are kids from rough backgrounds, and they can more than handle a little discipline.

[@lunathewolfblood7264]

Only reason the numbers are lower is because we gave up on this school Don let them fool you they don't correct behavior I get threatened everyday and have had some on choke me here and thats ONLY THIS PAST MONTH

[@goodinrichard]

Where is Joe Clark?

[@aaura8805]

*3:18** EXACTLY!!!*

[@yellowmellow4753]

Those numbers mean nothing.

[@billyback1038]

What is the man's name speaking at 4:08

[@magacop5180]

I didn’t think Green Bay was so bad.

[@darrendavis4731]

People, give up your BMW lease, and your porn and take your kids out of Public Schools. Send them to private Christian school, or home school. Private Christian schools in most states are very affordable. You can send two kids to a great Christian (or Catholic) school for the cost of a Yukon payment. Protect your kids from the monsters, gangs, and public teachers union.

[@horchata_demon5766]

Who’s here after the gaiser riot? Ya they failed

[@thewilliams5881]

I swear i go to Washington and no teachers feel harmed, it makes me so mad cause you can get money off of this kind of stuff and it just pisses me off😡

[@jasondavies3736]

The DaRk Soul I heard from a teacher that a student pooped in the hall. Is that true?

[@shanehester5317]

the truth is until u make parents be held accounible for there kids nothing will really change,

[@angelacarleton9575]

I agree. After all the parents are their children's first teachers!

[@magacop5180]

But How do you do that?

[@magacop5180]

Angela Carleton what happens when the Parents are yesteryear’s Scumbags?

[@aangeltx444]

@@magacop5180 stop rewarding bad behavior.

[@bigbad9583]

I agree, but that doesn't solve the problem at hand. It's not possible to hold parents accountable in most cases. There's no law against bad parenting unless abuse is proven. What needs to happen now is armed security need to take control of the school first, and any child not there to learn can hit the bricks. Based on the surrounding area you may never be able to let up on armed security and aggressive security procedures, but at some point what will be left are good students trying to advance their education.

[@kirk3301]

Why not interview or get reports from teachers, WFRV/channel 5? It sounds like it took losing one of your best(Greenbay's schools) to resign, to report it!

[@annarouni]

Interesting that the "suit" was never identified. Very interesting.