Geographic Information System

Spurred by a sense that disorderly behavior among students in South Euclid was increasing, the school resource officer (SRO) reviewed data regarding referrals to the principal's office. He found that the high school reported thousands of referrals a year for bullying and that the junior high school had recently experienced a 30 percent increase in bullying referrals. Police data showed that juvenile complaints about disturbances, bullying, and assaults after school hours had increased 90 percent in the past 10 years. A researcher from Kent State University (Ohio) surveyed all students attending junior high and high school. The researcher conducted interviews and focus groups with students identified as victims or offenders, teachers, and guidance counselors. Finally, the South Euclid Police Department purchased a Geographic Information System to map crime hotspots within the schools. The main findings pointed to four primary areas of concern: the school's environmental design; teacher knowledge of and response to the problem; parental attitudes and responses; and student perspectives and behaviors. The SRO worked closely with a social worker and a university researcher. They coordinated a Response Planning Team comprising many stakeholders, intended to address each area identified in the initial analysis. Environmental changes included modifying the school schedule and increasing teacher supervision of hotspots. Counselors and social workers conducted teacher-training courses in conflict resolution and bullying prevention. Parent education included mailings with information about bullying, an explanation of the new school policy, and a discussion about what could be done at home to address the problems. Finally, student education included classroom discussions between homeroom teachers and students, as well as assemblies conducted by the SRO. The SRO also opened a substation next to the primary hotspot. The Ohio Department of Education contributed by opening a new training center to provide a nontraditional setting for specialized help.