The studio bigwigs are morons to cut those scenes. During the scene where Steve and Gavin spy on the parent-teacher meeting with Dr. Caldicott, Caldicott talks about his daughter. He says that she was troubled, but after successfully going through his program, she's living happily with her boyfriend and going to college in San Francisco. In the boiler room, there's more to the scene between Steve and Newberry after Gavin becomes a Blue Ribbon. Newberry explains how the town hasn't been the same since a drunk driving accident years ago killed six people, including several teens.
More information is revealed here about the accident that changed the town.
When she found him dead, she committed suicide as well. Also gone is a scene between Steve and his father, where you understand the grief both are feeling and the extent his parents would go to make sure such a tragedy doesn't happen again. This makes sense shortly after this when Steve's mother finds the gun he took from Gavin earlier. This explains why his parents might consider signing him up for the program. A few scenes between Steve and his younger sister are trimmed.