The suspension rate for Harford students is continuing its upward spiral, with 149 cases as of Nov. 18, a school supervisor said last week.
Last school year, the county had 630 suspension cases.
"We are well on the way to matching the rate of suspensions" last year, Stephen C. Lentowski, supervisor of psychological and pupil personnel services, told school board members Monday.
Last year's suspensions more than tripled the number five years ago. Since then, the number has grown steadily, from 206 in 1989-1990 to 315 in 1990-1991, 413 in 1991-1992 and 440 in 1992-1993.
The most recent breakdown of causes for suspensions was available only through September, said John M. Mead, the school system's executive director of pupil services.
There were 42 cases that month, with eight thefts in the largest category. The high number of thefts could pertain to a particular incident in a particular school, Mr. Mead said, comparing it with 22 total theft cases last year.
The number of suspensions for drug-related offenses in September was six. Possession of explosive weapons and dangerous weapons was the third leading cause for suspensions, with five cases.
Last year, there were 76 drug-related cases and 70 cases involving explosive weapons and dangerous weapons. Nine of the latter cases involved guns, Mr. Mead said.
"They range from starter guns, pellet guns or whatever," he said.
Of the nine, one was a look-alike gun. "By virtue of our policy, if it looks like a gun, it is a gun," Mr. Mead explained. This year, gun NTC infractions have included two toy handguns, he said.
Mr. Mead pointed out that except in one instance, the confiscated guns did not contain ammunition. "No student has ever been shot in school, or anyone shot in school, or stabbed. It's simple possession," he said.
Other reasons for student suspensions last year included smoking, 30 cases; classroom disruption, 54; physical attacks on students, 52; attacks on staff members, 12; and vandalism, 19. The largest number of cases, 178, fell into the category of refusal to cooperate with school policies.
A student may be suspended for cause for up to five school days by a principal. If the principal decides that a suspension of more than five days or expulsion is warranted, he refers the case to Superintendent Ray R. Keech.
After a review and hearing by the pupil personnel office, the superintendent makes the final determination of the action to be taken.
The primary purpose of referring disruptive behavior to the superintendent's office, Mr. Mead said, is, "to get parents' attention."
Mr. Lentowski asked the school board to consider requesting money for an additional pupil personnel worker for his department next year to help handle the demanding caseload of the current eight workers.
One of those workers is assigned to participate in suspension hearings. The others are increasingly expanding their job duties, Mr. Lentowski said.
"Historically, they were attendance officers," Mr. Lentowski said. Over the years, many other responsibilities have fallen on them."
The pupil personnel workers provide case management services the county's 36,000 students and their families, make home visits, and oversee home instruction and alternative education programs, truancy problems and suspension cases.