The principal’s office at George Washington High School has had a revolving door of late. The latest appointee, Susan Thompson, is the fourth person to hold the job since the start of the 2015–16 school year. But she’s trying to bring stability to Washington.
During the Somerton Civic Association’s monthly meeting on March 8, Thompson told members that she replaced the interim principal tandem of Christine Black and Francine Deal on Feb. 29. Black and Deal had been on the job since Dec. 8, when they replaced Gene Jones.
Jones began the school year as principal, but was removed from the post following complaints about student violence and a lack of responsiveness to concerned parents. Washington, at Bustleton Avenue and Verree Road, serves about 1,800 students in ninth through 12th grades.
In addressing the Somerton community group, Thompson didn’t discuss her professional background, but she talked about how she plans to change the behaviors of problematic students. Rather than trying to deal with students as a group, she said she will single out teens for individual guidance, emphasising to each their responsibilities and expectations.
Further, Thompson said she will try to explain to students why certain behaviors are harmful or risky. She thinks that students will follow the rules if they understand the justification for them. She will employ an “open door” policy with students and wants to improve communication between school officials and the surrounding community.
Washington’s problems began making headlines last fall after a student posted photos on Facebook that showed a broken window inside the school and blood on the floor. The student said that the images depicted the aftermath of a fight. Later, a video surfaced depicting what appeared to be a fight involving several students. News reports of the incidents quoted students and their parents complaining about a pattern of violence in the school, as well as a general lack of discipline.
Jones convened a meeting at the school on Nov. 19. Hundreds of students, parents, teachers and community members attended. In early December, state Rep. Mark Cohen wrote a letter to Superintendent William Hite to report complaints of students roaming the halls, smoking pot, smoking cigarettes and disrupting classes.
On Dec. 7, three male students allegedly beat up a teacher after he tried to prevent them from forcibly taking a cell phone from a female student. The school district removed Jones from Washington that day.
Thompson said at the SCA meeting that the school’s problems have been exaggerated to some extent, leading to “fear and misinformation.” Yet, she added, there is certainly work to be done “to restore Washington to what it once was, a Middle States accredited school.”
Community Relations Officer Rich Simon of the 7th Police District said that two police officers are assigned to patrol outside of Washington at dismissal time to deter fighting and other disruptions.
In other Somerton Civic Association business:
• The civic group approved a church group’s attempt to obtain zoning approval to worship inside at 10151 Bustleton Ave. Although zoned residential, the property is a multi-unit commercial building that also contains a health care office. The site is immediately south of Washington High.
• SCA President Seth Kaplan thanked Electricians Union Local 98 and Bustleton Services Inc. for installing lighting on the World War I and II veterans memorial on Trevose Road. The civic group leader also thanked the volunteers who conducted a recent clean-up of Gifford Playground and those from Loesche Elementary School who cleaned up a trash-strewn lot near the school.
• Two candidates for elected offices delivered campaign speeches during the meeting. Kaplan explained that all candidates are invited to address the group once before each primary election and once before each general election. Candidates are permitted three minutes, in accordance with the civic group’s policy.
State Rep. Martina White is running for re-election to the 170th district, a seat she has held since winning a special election last year. White, a Republican, won the seat vacated by Brendan Boyle after his election to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Two Democratic contenders for White’s seat also attended the meeting, but chose not to address the group. Matt Darragh and Fran Nelms are expected to speak at the SCA’s April meeting, according to Kaplan.
State Rep. Kevin Boyle, a Democrat from Bustleton, spoke as a candidate for the state Senate. He is challenging incumbent John Sabatina Jr. in the 5th district. Sabatina won a special election last year for the seat vacated by Mike Stack, who became lieutenant governor.
Pennsylvania’s primary election will be on April 26. The deadline to register to vote is March 28. ••
