TUSD tackles disruptive behavior at Secrist Middle

TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) - The Tucson Unified School District created an emergency task force to tackle bullying, fighting and other disruptive behavior at an east-side middle school after officials noticed a high rate of disciplinary issues involving students.

TUSD Superintendent H.T. Sanchez sent a group of administrators to Secrist Middle School (3400 S. Houghton Road), near East Golf Links and South Houghton roads, for nearly a week to collect information, observe classrooms, and conduct focus group sessions with school staff and students.

According to a school report released on Nov. 6, teachers spent "a disproportionate amount of instructional time dealing with student behavior."

The task force also felt classroom procedures were "not uniform or smooth" and felt "classroom management strategies were limited."

Some Secrist students said they consider the disruptive behavior as "just another day at school."

Seventh grader C.J. Honeycutt said disruptive incidents happen almost every week.

"You have kids throwing things. You have kids not paying attention and cursing out the teachers," Honeycutt said. "It's just not getting any better."

Honeycutt said a fight between two female students broke out just earlier this week.

"From what I hear, it was pretty bad," Honeycutt said. "Fights have happened right in front of me where the girl just leans back and hits the other one."

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