Last year, Principal Don Woodring said, there were 10 suspensions. Half of the students took the school up on its offer to spend those days on community service rather than sleep late or while away the hours in front of a video screen.

"Any time a kid is not sitting home playing video games during a suspension, it's a positive thing," said Superintendent Lisa Brady. Because South doesn't suspend a high number of students yearly, she said it's hard to judge the success of the program.

The program is open to any student except those suspended for drug use, said Mr. Woodring, because "we don't feel comfortable doing that." Before students in that case are readmitted they must show a "clean," or drug-free urine sample, as well as a doctor's approval.

Those that do choose community service spend 14 hours working without pay. South students have done so at their school, for instance cleaning up after football games and weeding flower beds during warm weather.

Sometimes they help out at Lambertville's police headquarters. Police Director Bruce Cocuzza said students have done non-classified office work, helped paint the bay that police cars pull into with prisoners, cleaned up outside, and watched videos and read materials with a message. If his schedule permits, Mr. Cocuzza talks with them about making good decisions.

"I feel it's preferable that if they're suspended they're not home," said Mr. Cocuzza. "This is for their benefit, not ours." However, he said, the program hasn't crossed over to mentoring. "They're being punished and that's the attitude they have," Mr. Cocuzza said of the suspended students.

So far this year, said Mr. Woodring, there have been just two suspensions and neither student performed community service.

Based upon re-entry interviews with students, he feels that the community service program is "very effective," but doesn't think that it's led to better behavior within the school.

He likes it when students, all boys so far, have chosen community service with police, feeling that it can give them a different view of police.

As for the fewer suspensions this year, based upon talks with staff members, he said many feel that the new modified-block schedule, which calls for fewer but longer classes, has helped.

The length of the school day hasn't changed, but under modified block system students have two classes, a 55-minute "unit" lunch that includes time for clubs meetings, music practice, counseling and tutorial sessions with teachers, then two more classes.

The unit lunch, said Mr. Woodring, gives students time to "wind down a little bit, stretch their legs, talk to friends, go to clubs...." and seems to help them maintain their attention longer in the classroom.

He said it's led to less fighting and insubordination, both grounds for suspension.

URL: <a href="/texis/search/story.html?table=hu2006&id=45803db989">Mid-Day Break Cited For Calm At SHRHS
Community-Labor Option Rarely Needed</a>