Previously here at PHUHS, the disciplinary system was as follows: detention, in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, and lastly, expulsion. This year, the administration hopes to add an intermediate disciplinary action prior to an out-of-school suspension. Although the program is still awaiting approval from the Pinellas County Schools Superintendant, Dr. John Stewart, there is a strong belief amongst the administration that Alternative Bell Schedule will be approved and become a part of the Palm Harbor experience.
Alternative Bell Schedule, or ABS, will be the disciplinary action taken for infractions of school rules that fall somewhere between an in and out-of-school suspension. If a student commits an infraction of the rules and is reprimanded with a sentence of ABS, what happens will likely not be enjoyable for the student.
Students with ABS will have an alternative bell schedule. They will arrive at school for the day at 1 p.m. and stay until 6 p.m. (they will not be allowed on campus before 1 p.m.). As with an in-school suspension, students will be required to complete the work missed in their classes during that school day. More than likely, the ABS sentence will last only one day, but will also depend on the seriousness of the infraction committed, as with any suspension.
In adopting this new disciplinary program, PHUHS is following in the footsteps of other schools in Pinellas County such as East Lake High and Largo High.
“We saw that in other schools ABS acted as a good deterrent for students, who didn’t want to be at school, after school. Our ultimate goal is to have fewer disciplinary incidents,” Assistant Principal Kim Barker said.
Although the program is still awaiting approval, the success of ABS in other schools in causing fewer disciplinary incidents will most likely get the new program passed. So, be prepared to start following the rules: teachers might just take exquisite pleasure in sending you to this new dungeon of discipline.