The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Sisters High School is a safe environment: That is the message principal Bob Macauley is sending in the wake of Sisters High School student Stephen Withrow's indictment for murder.

Withrow, 17, was indicted for murder, first-degree manslaughter, assault and first-degree robbery in connection with the killing of 42-year-old Curtis Dean Kizer in Drake Park in April.

A member of the community wrote an email to Macauley expressing her desire to help the high school students understand non-violence, and questioning the involvement of the two Sisters High School students who were present at the scene of the attack, Macauley told The Nugget.

In his response dated May 10, Macauley wrote, "A vast majority of our kids are respectful, polite, and responsible. Unfortunately the kids who most easily bring attention to any school tend to be those with negative behaviors."

Macauley also wrote he believes the students at the scene were not aware that any violence was coming and did not encourage it.

Still, the beating was brutal and has shaken the students and staff of the high school, Macauley said. In the aftermath of the incident, the school district is asking what, if anything, has gone wrong among the studentbody, Macauley said.

"We rate high in safety and now with Steve Withrow's huge incident, the question comes up -- are we really safe? That's a good question, and we're not afraid to re-examine it," Macauley said.

According to a survey which was conducted in April, just before the alleged killing, a large majority of students, staff and parents indicated they felt exceptionally safe at Sisters High School, Macauley said.

The survey rates answers on a scale of one to five, with one representing "strongly agree," and five "strongly disagree." According to the survey, the older students feel safer at school than do the younger students.

In connection with the statement, "SHS is a safe place, free from violence and harassment," freshman averaged a score of 3.7 and seniors averaged a score of 4.22.

"In most schools, the scores go down as they get older because the students get jaded," Macauley said.

The parents averaged a score of 4.1 for the same question, and staff averaged 4.35.

Macauley said, with the exception of a spike last year, there has been no rise of violence in the high school.

This year, Sisters High School reported only one fight, which involved a girl hitting a boy for making a rude comment, according to Jim Golden, assistant principal.

Last year, there was a spike in the number of fights at the high school, but they were mostly among the same group of freshmen and sophomore students, Macauley said. Macauley estimated there were about 11 fights at the high school last year, which resulted in suspending the students.

"They were all the same kids," Macauley said. "The culture of the school is non-violent. Ninety-nine percent of the kids are not involved in intimidation. We listen for rumors of fights and we don't try to put things under the rug. I don't see that there are problems off campus. If there is, it is an extreme bunch of five to six kids."

Macauley said Withrow did not have any incidents of violence or intimidation during his time at the high school.

Macauley described Withrow as a troubled teen who appeared to be getting better. He said Withrow, who had a history of juvenile offenses, including illegal possession of alcohol (according to a Bulletin report), was beginning to come out of his negative behavioral patterns.

"He would have made it if it was not for the drinking and that incident," Macauley said. "That year was the first time he had earned his way back to high school as a full-time student."