Student Beaten in Toki Middle School Bathroom

WKOW-TV via a kind reader's email:

Parents of students at a Madison middle school worry about safety after a child was beat up in one the school's bathroom.

The incident happened last week Thursday.

According to a letter sent home to parents Monday, a group of students followed a male student into the boy's bathroom where another student assaulted him.

The group blocked entrance to the bathroom.

Surveillance cameras show the beating along with a group of witnesses cheering on the violence.

Toki [Map] Principal Nicole Schaefer says the school sent the letter to alert parents that the proper actions were taken and assure them the school is safe.

Schaefer would not tell 27 News if any students were suspended or if the victim is back in school.

Toki Middle School Restorative Justice Plan [82K PDF]:

Judicious discipline is a three pillared process set on a solid educational foundation. The first pillar is prevention through education and positive behavior supports; the second pillar is equity through fair and consistent consequences, and the third pillar is restoration through empathy, forgiveness and conflict resolution. The educational foundation that these pillars stand on is curriculum, instruction and assessment practices that are engaging, rigorous, culturally responsive, and individualized. In summary, kids who are engaged in learning are less likely to engage in misconduct.

The backbone of our discipline policy is that all staff and students must be treated with dignity and respect, including those who harm others. We want everyone to know that misconduct is never acceptable, but always fixable. We will be warm but strict, and follow through with clear, fair and consistent consequences, but also encourage students to repair the harm they caused, earn forgiveness, and restore their reputations.

When a student engages in misconduct, we must care for two interests:

1. The student who misbehaves - We teach the student how to repair the harm, earn forgiveness, and restore his or her reputation
2. All other students - We protect their health, safety, property, and opportunity to learn in an environment free from distractions

Therefore, when a student engages in misconduct, he or she has two options:

1. Fix the harm (ex: Apology, Mediation, Repair or Replace, Community service, Extended learning)
2. Accept a consequence (ex: Lunch detention, After school detention, In school suspension, Out of school suspension, Suspension alternatives)

The consequences for misconduct will vary, depending on how the behavior harms the health, safety, property and learning opportunities of other students. Although choosing to "fix the harm" may reduce or replace consequences for less harmful misconduct, behaviors that significantly or severely harm others will result in mandatory suspension days, up to a recommendation for expulsion.

40 students ( 2008/2009 student population is 538) open enrolled out of Toki Middle school for the 2009/2010 term according to this Madison School District document. Much more on Toki here.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at March 7, 2009 9:22 AM
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