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Parents whose children face long-term suspensions and criminal charges for their involvement in a Dec. 14 fight at Grimsley High School are pleading with the Guilford County Board of Education to help the students return to classes.

Should they be allowed to return now? Join the discussion at the Debatables blog.

Members of the Hampton Homes neighborhood plan to hold a community meeting on Thursday at St. Philip AME Zion Church. Some students protested the suspensions outside the Guilford County Schools' central office last week and spoke along with parents and ministers at the school board's regular meeting.

"I'm just asking, well, begging for help so I can get back in school," James McDowell, a 15-year-old student who hasn't attended classes since the fight, told the school board last week.

St. Philip Pastor Clarence Shuford Jr. and other ministers said the purpose of the meeting is to build support for returning the students to school and create a mediation process to resolve conflicts between rival neighborhoods. The meeting comes about a week before the school board hears a task force report about how to better address student misbehavior in the district.

"We just think that a young person belongs in school and they do make mistakes," said the Rev. Nelson Johnson, director of the Beloved Community Center. "The community has to find a way to speak to these challenges without making it worse."

Dozens of students were involved in the December fight, sparked by a years-long conflict among teenagers from the Hampton Homes/Warnersville, Cumberland Courts and other neighborhoods. Grimsley principal Kevin Fleming estimated 18 students were suspended, but would not specify the amounts of time they face out of school.

Resource Officer Marc Ridgill said he arrested 21 students and they face 48 charges, including inciting a riot, assault and simple affray. Eight students were charged as adults, he said.

Some parents say they unsuccessfully sought help from police and school officials before the fight and believe their children were unfairly disciplined.

"A lot of the other kids did not get dealt with," said Stephanie McDowell, mother of James McDowell and a Hampton Homes resident. "I don't think it was fair."

Stephanie McDowell said her son, who moved back to Greensboro last year, has been the victim of neighborhood bullying and she believes school officials should help come up with a solution that does not require him sitting at home.

"What is wrong with mediation?" she said. "Why are they trying not to let that be an option?"

Charles Thornton, also a Hampton Homes resident, said his two daughters were suspended for five days and charged as juveniles with assault for their involvement in the fight.

Thornton said his daughters were attacked as soon as they got off the bus at Grimsley.

"We're trying to get them to suspend the suspensions," Thornton said. "How do you break the rules when you have a right to defend yourself?"

It is unclear what the school board can do at this point other than hear individual appeals.

The district's discipline policy says that high school students caught fighting or assaulting other students can be suspended for up to a year, with a principal having the authority to suspend for up to 10 days. Students and their parents can appeal long-term suspensions and expulsions through the Board of Education and Superior Court.

The only people who can withdraw the criminal charges are the arresting officer, the victims of the crimes, the district attorney or judge, Ridgill said.

Ridgill would not comment on the police department's responsibility to prevent fights but said he was on his way to court when the Grimsley fight started and had to rush back to campus.

"When a large group makes a decision (to fight), it's kind of hard at that point to prevent it," he said.

Board member Amos Quick expressed concern last week about adults becoming like "rabid dogs" when it comes to children who make mistakes.

"We have to, in this community, value our children much more than we are doing right now," Quick said.

Contact Morgan Josey Glover at 373-7078 or morgan.josey@news-record.com