Students to lead way
in cracking down on campus crimes
VISTA ---- Call it due
process for students by students.
The newly created Peer Court Review Committee, unanimously endorsed by the
school board at its June 5 meeting, is in the initial stages of developing a
school-based youth-court program for the district.
A couple of lawyers, a
sheriff's deputy, one school administrator, a parent and a student board
member of the Vista Unified School District huddled Monday afternoon to talk
tactics when it comes to handling bad behavior at schools.
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"I've talked to a lot of my friends and they think suspension is a vacation," said committee member Rochelle Quinones, 16, a senior at Palomar High School. "We need to keep them in school and find another way to discipline for the actions they've done."
Cody Campbell, the student school board member spearheading the youth-court program, said other youth-courts across the country have reduced suspensions and saved school districts thousands of dollars by keeping students in school.
Local school districts lose money from the state Department of Education each day a student is absent from school.
Alternative punishments to suspensions could include community service, educational workshops and formal apologies.
"It's one of the most successful and cost effective ways to reduce juvenile infractions and school problems," Campbell, 17, said.
The youth court will, as much as possible, operate like a traditional court of law, except run by students with oversight and direction from adults. If possible, Campbell would like to be able to use real courtrooms. If not, classrooms and school gymnasiums will work.
Martin Grover, Vista's assistant city attorney, attended the meeting on Monday and said students on both sides, the ones in trouble and the ones in charge, stand to learn a lot about the legal system.
"The students do take their responsibility real seriously and they do impose strong sentences," Grover said. "I think they'll do a good job in evaluating what the defendant has done and evaluate their remorsefulness."
Grover will serve in an advisory role when the youth-program reaches full speed.
Richard Eiden, a parent of Rancho Buena Vista High School and Madison Middle School students, said violence among kids is the No. 1 issue to be addressed.
Recently, while walking his dog near Rancho Buena Vista, Eiden witnessed the gathering of a fight among several teens.
Gayle Olson, the district's director of student support services, said across the board fighting is the top offense at Vista's high schools.
Shopping center parking lots near Rancho Buena Vista and Vista high schools are hot spots for after-school fights.
Other prevalent offenses are vandalism, theft, possession of marijuana and tobacco.
Students who participate in the youth-court system would be required to admit guilt to avoid suspension and a black mark on their school record. Parental permission would also be required.
Students serving in the authority roles would be sworn to confidentiality in order to avoid rumors and gossip getting around.
The committee discussed four possible models, each with slight differences, for the youth-court program, though no verdict was reached.
Campbell said he hopes the committee will have chosen a specific model to present to the school board at its January meeting.
Contact staff writer Shanna McCord at (760) 631-6621 or smccord@nctimes.com.
Paid for and authorized by Cody Campbell for School Board 2006, FPPC ID# 1290192