State of the School

It is clear that Paul Gasparini is always up to something in his office. Papers are haphazardly stacked on his desk and his conference table as he rushes in from hallway duty.

He sits in his favorite conference chair and leans back, ready to begin what is probably a common practice for him: a Rampage interview.

This is Mr. Gasparini's ninth year as principal at Jamesville-Dewitt High School. When he began, he was involved in the structural expansion of the school, including the building of the new red hallway. Mr. Gasparini has gone on to increase the number of AP courses offered and taken, to expand the number of clubs and activities, and hire more staff to assist students with their academic needs. He has also formed a great relationship between the school and community organizations such as the Parent Teacher Group.

So, how does our principal feel about what's going on this year?

The H1N1 virus is now a major issue for all schools, including J-DHS. Students have heard the announcements urging everyone to get enough sleep, practice good hygiene, and eat well. Letters were also sent home last year, and now, hand sanitizers can be found in hallways, classrooms, and cafeterias. Students must use hand sanitizer before touching any of the mac lab computers.

"I think everybody understands the seriousness of the issue," says Mr. Gasparini, adding that even he could improve his sleeping and eating habits to stay healthy.

The new late policy has also gained some attention among students. Now, if students are tardy three or more times a marking period (even with an excuse), they will receive an after school detention. According to Gasparini, this rule originated from problems with attendance and tardiness last year.

"We want to pay close attention to attendance," Mr. Gasparini says. He hopes that the late policy will decrease the number of tardy students by emphasizing that tardiness is completely unacceptable.

This year, a new policy is being utilized: the senior privilege of iPods in study halls. So far, there have been no problems with this. Mr. Gasparini is pleased with the way that this is going, and he is always considering new privileges for seniors, especially those in good standing.

On the subject of technology, the cell phone policy remains the same: if they're seen during school hours, they're confiscated and disciplinary action is taken. Gasparini is aware that cell phones are becoming "ubiquitous," showing up everywhere and developing new features quickly. He plans to establish and enforce strong guidelines this year regarding when and how cell phones can be used at J-DHS.

Finally, the school dress code has become a problem for some. The line between what is and isn't appropriate has become a bit fuzzy. Several students are concerned with the idea that their classmates are not following the dress code. However, Mr. Gasparini doesn't consider it a pressing issue.

Current styles influence dress code problems, Mr. Gasparini says. As styles become less conservative, dress code violations increase. Gasparini says that "What we see [in school] is reflected in the culture." He doesn't consider the dress code to be a pressing issue right now. This year, there have been no major dress code violations, according to Gasparini.

The administration has several goals for improving the school this year. More data is being analyzed from state exams to improve curriculums and test scores. There is a Study Skills Committee that is working to integrate study skills into everyday curriculum. Also, Mr. Gasparini is working with our Library Media Specialist, Mary Panek, to make the Library Media Center a great resource for every student in the building.

Gasparini wants to emphasize that the school relies on active involvement and input from students, parents, and faculty. He has an "open door policy," welcoming students anytime. He loves hearing about school experiences and encourages students to visit him with problems.

"My job is to provide the best learning environment for students," says Gasparini. "When we have everyone contributing, we're the best place that we can be."