The Sun
Sunnyvale's Newspaper

School counters conflict with student constitution

By Katherine Petersen

Luisa Villagomez knows that conflicts and fighting can be found on almost any campus. But the eighth-grader wants to do what she can to help solve these problems at Columbia Middle School.

As chairman of a newly formed school leadership group, Villagomez would like to see her school become a clean, safe place that kids want to come to.

"We want to change the atmosphere of the school so more people can get along," she said. "There's people that don't get along, and there's fights. Our school has a bad reputation, but nothing goes on here that doesn't go on at other campuses."

Principal Betsy Doss and assistant principal Teresa Pena handpicked 19 students to participate in the group. The idea for a leadership council stemmed from Villagomez's experience at a conflict-resolution camp last year. Spotting conflicts on campus again this year, the student approached Cleveland Prince, a Santa Clara County probation officer who works with Columbia students, to help find a solution.

Prince believes that students will gain empowerment by having a say in what goes on on campus.

"They have a voice, and adults will listen to their ideas about how the school and the community should be," he said. "They feel important, empowered and that their viewpoints matter as opposed to being told what to do all the time."

As its first step, the group wrote a constitution with guidelines for students to follow that will be posted all over campus. "Hopefully when they read this, they will think twice before getting into trouble," said Kaye Castro, a seventh-grade group member.

The message's motto is RESPECT, with each letter standing for one of the rules: reform, empower, success, positive thinking, encourage, communicate and togetherness.

"It will take a while for kids to adjust and learn about these things and hopefully follow them," Castro said.

Prince, Pena and school counselor Marta Wendlinger advise the group, but the students make the decisions, Prince said.

The probation officer wants to incorporate community service projects into the group's activities. "I may give them some ideas like beautification of the community, but they have to choose something they feel good about and are supportive of," he said.

Villagomez has wanted to volunteer in a homeless shelter since she was a little girl. "I think it would be a good experience," he said. "I like that they want us to figure out our own problems. Everybody's a part of the school, but this makes you more interested in not missing it."

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This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, November 26, 1997.
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