News 12 at 6 o'clock, August 22, 2008

AUGUSTA, Ga -- From fights to weapons, all in just the two weeks Richmond County students have been back. The latest, this afternoon at Butler High School.

That's where police arrested three students Friday; Tyler Gardner, Denzel Reynolds and Tyrell Sanders all 17 and all booked into the Richmond County jail for disorderly conduct after an afternoon fight.

Six other students have been suspended for a brawl there on Wednesday that started with a food fight in the lunchroom the day before.

The central office agrees, it's been a bumpy start to the school year not just at Butler, but the whole the district, and the system actually expected it.

News 12's Lynnsey Gardner talks exclusively with Butler's principal, Dr. Walter Reeves. "Just like most things, it spilled over from the neighborhood."

News 12 also asked Dr. Reeves about the fight on Wednesday. "Wasn't a gang fight, just 2 to 3 on one side and 2 to three buddies on the other side."

Last week, another student was suspended for bringing a pocket knife to school.

But butler high school is not alone.

"There are always going to be a few bumps." says Richmond County Public Information Director Louis Svehla.

Like one tuesday at Tubman Middle School. That's where Svehla says there was a fight while school was letting out and one student witnessed another with a weapon.

The next day, a 13-year-old admitted guilt and was charged.

"The school was searched. It's a belief that the weapon never entered the school, may have been obtained somewhere else that's why there was nothing in the school and nothing on the person." explains Svehla.

Still, the student was suspended and will now have a tribunal. Svehla adds, "Leave the fighting and weapons at home, friends should be built at school, not enemies."

And Dr. Reeves agrees and he has a plan. "Reward and recognize more of the positive behavior and so those kids can be the role models rather than the ones causing the problems."

And it's not all bad news out of Butler High School. Last school year, Butler saw a big decrease in these types of problems -- 58 less than the school year before. The central office says that's thanks in part to Dr. Reeves and the positive programs he's been working hard to implement. "Principal Reeves has done a great job putting in mentor porgrams, counseling programs..so he's really working within his own buiding." adds Svehla.

Butler High Schools JROTC program was just recognized as a naval honor school. It's one of only 47 schools in the country to receive such an honor.