| The Tampa schools are a member of the Hillsborough | | | | 1,369 students in the 2005-2006 school year. These |
| County School District, in which the Disciplinary | | | | resulted in: |
| Committee resides. The disciplinary panel deals with | | | | -183 students expelled; |
| the troubled youth who commit serious offenses and | | | | -660 recommended for change of school placement; |
| policy violations at school. The panel imposes such | | | | -More than 400 were exceptional education students, |
| measures as expulsion or reassignment to another | | | | who legally cannot be expelled and were |
| school. | | | | recommended for change of school placement; and |
| This past school year of 2005-2006 had the lowest | | | | -113 received no expulsion or change of school |
| number of referrals to this disciplinary panel than any | | | | placement. |
| other since the 1998-1999 school year. | | | | The panel also saw a drop in weapons referrals. In |
| Tampa schools, along with the other school districts, | | | | the 2004-2005 school years, there were 336 |
| have been trying harder to solve student problems | | | | weapons offenses. In 2005-2006, they received 311 |
| in-school, before making referrals to the panel. This | | | | weapons referrals, of which 19 percent were |
| obviously has increased the number of in-school | | | | firearms. The surprising statistic is that more middle |
| suspensions over previous years; however, the | | | | school students brought firearms to school than high |
| Tampa schools believe their mission is to teach | | | | school students, though this trend was seen in Pasco, |
| children - and you cannot teach those who are not | | | | Pinellas and Polk counties, as well. |
| attending school. Tampa schools have cautioned their | | | | Principal Katie Hoffman, of the Tampa schools' |
| principals to be more patient and tolerant with | | | | Madison Middle School, believes that the psychological |
| problem students, when their offenses do not hold a | | | | development and maturity level of this age group |
| danger to other students, educators and school | | | | may have something to do with the high statistics. |
| employees. Additionally, Tampa schools educators | | | | She believes that children at this age try to impress |
| have been educating students more aggressively on | | | | others at a higher rate than high school students, |
| the district's zero tolerance of violent acts and other | | | | testing their limits and succumbing to peer pressure |
| serious offenses, strongly stressing the | | | | to prove themselves. |
| consequences of such acts. | | | | Unfortunately for the Tampa schools, their |
| The Hillsborough County School District has about | | | | Chamberlain Senior High School had the most overall |
| 191,000 students, many of which belong to the | | | | referrals with 49. Tampa schools' Blake High School |
| Tampa schools (the county seat). In the 2004-2005 | | | | came in second with 40. The Tampa schools' also led |
| school year, 1,602 students were referred to the | | | | the way for elementary offense referrals with five |
| panel for hearings. Those referrals decreased to | | | | for Cahoon Elementary. |