Cape does not have a gang policy, he said, but the committee recommended the board adopt the one it has drafted, prohibiting gang-related dress, symbols, graffiti, listed membership, threats and acts of violence on an accelerated schedule, bringing the matter to a vote next month.

Under the policy, a first offense would bring an automatic five-day out-of-school suspension. A student suspended for gang-related activities could not return to school until a parent met with district office officials, said Wray. To return to school, a student suspended for gang-related activities would have to sign a behavior contract.

A second offense would earn a student an expulsion hearing. Wray said that the board has discretion over the duration of an expulsion – up to 180 days – and can decide whether to send a student to alternative school or order home schooling by a district employee. Wray said following an Oct. 8 fight between groups of Cape students behind the movie theater at Midway, the safety committee decided to revisit the policy it had begun writing last year. “We decided we wanted to send the message out that gangs and gang-related activities are not going to be tolerated, and we wanted to make the consequence severe,” Wray said.

School board member Esthelda Parker Selby said she felt good the board was moving forward with a policy on gangs, but that it is crucial the community and parents are aware of the policy, should it be passed. She suggested student assemblies in which administrators could discuss the policy with the entire student body.

School board Vice President Spencer Brittingham said, “I want us to ensure parents are involved in every step of the way.” He said a lot of parents are unaware of what their children go through at and after school.

Wray said the Cape discipline matrix is based on communication among parents, students and the school district. He said behavior contracts are a way for the district to make sure parents are informed about what their children are doing. He said in the wake of the Oct. 8 fight, it was clear that several parents were unware of their children’s activities. Wray said district officials and board members have discussed the issue of gangs before, and discussion continues over whether there are gangs in Sussex County. “Quite frankly, we don’t know. We don’t think we have them, but we’re going to be ready for them if we do,” he said.

He said it appears that there are some students trying to emulate gang-like behavior they have heard about or seen.

Following the Oct. 8 fight, several football players involved were suspended from the football team. Other students involved in the fight call themselves Juggalos and follow the Detroit-based group Insane Clown Posse. At the time of the fight, Delaware State Police said Juggalos are not considered a gang. Police say an investigation of the incident is continuing.

Wray applauded the way high school administrators handled the recent fight and said the district does not want to be in another similar situation without a gang policy to direct punishment. He said it’s unusual for the board to waive the 30-day waiting period for approving a new policy. However, he said each committee has two board members, so the policy has been vetted at a level just under the school board.