Type to search

Decatur High holding “risky behaviors” forum

Decatur

Decatur High holding “risky behaviors” forum

The front steps of Decatur High School. Photo by Dan Whisenhunt
Share
The front steps of Decatur High School. Photo by Dan Whisenhunt

The front steps of Decatur High School. Photo by Dan Whisenhunt

Decatur High and City Schools of Decatur officials will be holding a forum tonight, March 28, to discuss the “risky behaviors” of students.

The forum will be held at 7 p.m. at the Decatur High performing arts center.

“Come tonight to learn about what’s going on with Decatur teens related to fighting, posting fights to social media, underage drinking, drinking and driving, drug use and cyber bullying – and find out what we as parents can do individually and together to combat these risky behaviors,” the announcement says. “The recent Georgia Student Health Survey (a self-reporting anonymous survey taken by students at most Georgia middle and high schools) indicates that Decatur students are drinking and using drugs more than they used to – and more than at peer schools and statewide.”

The most recent survey measured the responses of 731 Decatur High students. Over half the students surveyed “strongly agreed” and “somewhat agreed” that they had “observed a fight at school.” About 55 percent students surveyed said they had not consumed any alcohol in the last 30 days. Over 70 percent of students said they had not used marijuana in the last 30 days.

While the announcement didn’t specifically mention it, recently three Decatur High senior girls were arrested for arrested for battery after they were videotaped beating up another girl.

Here are the most recent Georgia Student Health Survey results for Decatur High. To see the system-wide results, click here.

773 – Decatur High School (1)

Here is the full announcement of tonight’s meeting:

Special Parent Forum: Taking Action for Decatur’s Teens and Their Risky Behavior

Organized by City Schools of Decatur Administration and Decatur High PTSA

Monday, March 28 ● 7:00-8:15pm
NEW LOCATION: Decatur High School Performing Arts Center

Featuring:
Dr. David Dude, CSD Superintendent
Mike Booker, Decatur Police Chief
Jessica Andrews-Wilson, Certified Prevention Specialist (and former Director of Georgia Teen Institute)
Wrap Up Conversation facilitated by Eric Tumperi, DHS PTSA President

Come tonight to learn about what’s going on with Decatur teens related to fighting, posting fights to social media, underage drinking, drinking and driving, drug use and cyber bullying — and find out what we as parents can do individually and together to combat these risky behaviors.

The recent Georgia Student Health Survey (a self-reporting anonymous survey taken by students at most Georgia middle and high schools) indicates that Decatur students are drinking and using drugs more than they used to — and more than at peer schools and statewide. The survey is a public document — link HERE for the complete statewide data. Link HERE for the portion of the report related to City Schools of Decatur.

At our forum, Dr. Dude and Chief Mike Booker will give some background on the current state of affairs, before turning to Jessica Andrews-Wilson, nationally known adolescent risk behavior specialist, who will guide us through actions that we, the parents, can take.

To ensure the conversation doesn’t end there, our DHS PTSA President Eric Tumperi will review the first steps in a plan of action. You will have a chance to ask questions of our speakers and to get involved!

While the focus is on DHS, Renfroe and FAVE, ALL current or potential City Schools of Decatur parents are welcome.

Please come and be part of this effort.

Questions? DHS PTSA President Eric Tumperi, [email protected]

Coming soon: We will update information on our DHS PTSA website as we go, send out electronic parent surveys for helping engage in the process, and send email updates to our parent community.

Correction: An earlier version of this story listed the wrong date for the event. This story has been updated with the correct information. 

Tags: