GUILFORD COUNTY – A discussion about improving 10 low-performing schools turned into a Guilford County Board of Education debate Thursday about student behavior and law enforcement in the schools.

Earlier in the day, the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office sent out a news release describing three fights at Eastern Guilford High School and the names of those arrested. Many board of education members had not seen the release until parent and 2010 school board candidate Lisa Clapp handed out copies.

Because of confidentiality laws, school officials rarely release the names of students involved in fights.

When the discussion turned to student suspensions, board members focused on the report. Some of the low-performing schools are working to reduce the number of out-of-school suspensions. “We need to find a way to handle suspensions but not disrupt others,” said board member Chris Cooke. “We need to promote good behavior.”

Vice Chairman Amos Quick criticized what he called the escalation of measures from suspensions to arrests and officers using stun guns. School board members have debated the use of school resource officers and stun guns for several months. The board remains divided.

“Now we Tase some students and arrest some. What’s next? The National Guard is still available,” Quick said. “What we are doing does not work.”

Eastern High Principal Greggory Slate said all three fights were connected to a fight last weekend at a Greensboro birthday party. The school resource officer reported the incident involved 100 students. The party altercation occurred between two males, and the sister of one of the victims accosted some females at the party. Greensboro police responded to the weekend incident.

Slate said he also requested additional support from the sheriff’s office this week. Officers either saw the fights are were nearby, Slate said.

“We also told the staff to be more vigilant,” he said.

Clapp, whose son is a freshman at Eastern High, is a supporter of SROs in the schools.

“SROs provide safety and discipline on our campuses,” she said.

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