Dr. Robert A. Daiber, along with Sheriff John D. Lakin and Chief Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit Court David A. Hylla recently announced a new mentoring program aimed at fighting suspensions and expulsions.
There were more than 272,000 suspensions and 2,400 expulsions at Illinois public schools during the 2011-2012 school year. That same year, law enforcement officials arrested 10,000 students.
The new program, entitled “Give 30,” aims to provide at-risk youth in the county with positive support.
“Give 30 is designed for students who have been identified by school officials as heading in a direction that could lead to an arrest by one of Sheriff Lakin’s deputies, a courtroom appearance before Judge Hylla, or at the very least, suspension or expulsion from school,” Daiber said.
As part of the program, the Regional Office of Education will look for 100 civic leaders to become mentors and spend 30 minutes a week talking with mentees.
“Give 30 is not an out-of-school mentoring program, such as ‘Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Give 30 is an in-school program that is linked to the discipline of at-risk youth. Mentors will meet with students in a controlled school environment to discuss issues the students are facing and provide guidance,” Daiber added. “It’s a program to get troubled kids back on the right path.”
The Regional Office of Education will pilot the program this spring.
Alerts Sign-up