Superintendent: registrations at 2,302; district outlines behavior education and follows board policy on discipline

Superintendent Doctor Smith told the Flossmoor School District 161 board on Sept. 9 that 2,302 students were registered in the district as of the meeting and that registrations typically continue for several weeks after school starts.

Smith said the district uses explicit instruction in expected behaviors and social-emotional learning curricula to teach self-awareness and self-control. "We directly teach expected behaviors not only throughout our buildings from verbal interactions to physical interactions ... We use Second Step as our social emotional learning curriculum to teach self awareness and self control," the superintendent said. Smith also referenced "Capturing Kids' Hearts" as an umbrella approach the district uses to build relationships.

A board member raised a concern that a recent altercation and safety concerns at a Homewood-Flossmoor High School football game involved District 161 middle school students and in some cases students being handcuffed. Smith said the district must respect privacy and cannot comment on individual students but described the district's role: "When it comes to the discipline in the school district we follow our board policy. We follow our handbook which has all of the board policies for discipline laid out." She said the district works with families and teaches conflict resolution and behavioral expectations but that intervening in community events outside district jurisdiction can be complicated.

Smith also reminded the board and families that the district is holding elementary open houses and Parker Junior High's open house the following week, and that a town hall meeting had been scheduled for Sept. 23 with outreach by newsletter, flyers and social media.

The board later moved into executive session to discuss student-discipline matters under the Illinois Open Meetings Act citation referenced at the meeting; the public record shows no action was taken following executive session.