In most high schools, the administrations use detentions, suspensions, and expulsions as ways of dealing with student behavior. At DGS, the administration has implemented its own strategy to keep students out of trouble by using its new PATH program. This year the program has seen an increase in the number of students being sent into it.
The administration reported as of Sept. 23, 2024, 35 students had been sent into the PATH program for disciplinary issues. This is an average of 1.4 students being sent into the program daily.
DGS Associate Principal, Dr. Karen Taylor, has identified why they have seen an increase in the usage of the PATH program.
“One area where we have seen an increase, is in fighting; we do see an overrepresentation of our ninth-grade students and transfer students being involved in those fights,” Dr. Taylor said.
PATH which stands for “Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies” was first implemented during the 2021-2022 school year as a way to cut down on the number of student suspensions at DGS. The program allows students to not face out of school suspension which, students serve out a multiple-day sentence. PATH instead gives students a similar consequence to in-school suspension; however, students are led by the PATH coordinator so they can learn from their mistakes and be brought back into a regular school environment.
The problem that is occurring though is the program seems to have many repeat offenders according to a senior as they recounted their time being a part of the PATH program after facing discipline for substance abuse this school year.
“When I was in there, it was unfortunately fully crowded. No desks were open…I still see some kids that were in there with me two weeks ago that are in there for something else or they got in trouble again, and it’s just tough to see that,” the anonymous source said.
With this rise in numbers for the program, DGS discipline numbers along with those at DGN have forced District 99 to submit a discipline plan for this school year as they are a part of the top 20% of Exclusionary Discipline for schools in the state of Illinois. This means that DGS is in the top 20% of schools in the state of Illinois that have the highest discipline rate when it comes to suspensions, detentions, and expulsions. It’s to also be noted that DGS has been a part of this top 20% for the past couple of school years as well.
The increase in the misbehavior of the new students at DGS has caused the administration to use all of its resources to try and limit the number of students having to go through the PATH program.
“We need to do a better job of educating our incoming students of what the rules and expectations are here… We are also looking at going to the junior highs this spring so next school year we don’t see a repeat of this. We know that students listen to students better, and I work with our Mustang Way leaders, and we would love to bring them to the junior highs this spring,” Dr. Taylor said.
As the administration continuously works out a perfect solution. An anonymous senior gives their experience on the positive effects of the PATH program.
“If you actually take it seriously and put in the effort, you will get out what you deserve. It opened other doors for me because I got to talk to other people that I needed and I was given support I didn’t think I had at the time. Now looking back I had an amazing support circle from that PATH program,” the anonymous source said.
With a positive upside for students who complete PATH, DGS still faces the challenge of keeping students out of the program in the first place. With the high numbers at the start of this school year, the administration is working to maintain the behavior of not just new students, but all students who attend the school. Time will tell with the situation that DGS has been presented, but keeping students educated on school policies and keeping them away from discipline such as the PATH program is one of the school’s top priorities.
