DeKalb High School has administered Project Breakthrough to improve school climate and communication.

The project consists of 40 administrators, staff members, parents and high school union representatives, assembled in response to the racial friction that occurred last year. It also aims to develop a climate which supports an inclusive learning environment. The program is now a month into its life.

Last year, the unauthorized publication of a student-based editorial newsletter, “E.G. Weekly,” accused certain students of not acting their race and discredited the reputation of others. The eight staff members and editors of the “E.G. Weekly” were punished with a five-day suspension. Parents of other students said the punishment was too harsh and the incident could have been used for a learning experience.

Since then, the newly-appointed Principal Lindsey Hall, with the help of chairwoman of the project Sue Wong has created a fresh environment through the administration of Project Breakthrough.

The project will provide better communication through the school by re-administering student-run activities such as the morning announcements.

Project Breakthrough will grant more attention to communicative programs such as peer mediation, tutoring, and school arts.

“There is a direct link between climate and school achievement,”Hall said.

LaMetra H. Curry, mother of a black freshman at DHS, wrote a letter to the school which stated, “When parents entrust their children to a system on a daily basis, they can only hope for the system to be fair, however when your child can express experiencing the fairness it provides the parent with an unbelievable sense of calm, confidence in the district, and gratitude for the employees.”

Students at DHS had varied opinions of the school’s racial climate.

The racial friction hasn’t changed, said Mike Finnigan, a white student. He has been called a racist on many different occasions because of his friends. Someone will bump into a complete stranger in the halls and be called names, he said.

Alvin Welch, a senior at DHS and a black student, had a different view.

“It’s starting to get better,” Welch said. “It’s not getting worse.

He also said he had never experienced racially-motivated incidents and agreed with the administration’s reaction to the “E.G. Weekly.”

“I think the reaction was appropriate because you don’t want to start stuff,” he said. “You want people to hang out with each other.”

Another white student at the school said racial prejudice still occurs at the school.

Sophomore Dennis Krone, a white student, said he has heard the “N word” used many times in the locker room, and has found discrimination from and toward students who dress like “neo-nazis” with shaved heads, white t-shirts and red bandanas hanging out of their pockets.

However, Krone said Project Breakthrough and certain administrators have made a difference this year.

“Principal Hall has pushed things along and Assistant Principal Hahn commands an aura of authority,” he said.