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Board hears data on belonging and discipline disparities; district outlines restorative focus and bullying reporting changes
Summary
Batavia USD 101 staff presented Panorama survey results showing high overall belonging but lower peer-to-peer scores, discipline data with a drop in suspension disparities for Black students, and new flowcharts and reporting measures intended to improve bullying reporting and restorative responses.
Tom (staff member) presented Panorama survey results and discipline data to the board, saying that student responses show a generally high sense of supportive relationships but that peer‑to‑peer measures lag behind teacher and family ratings.
On discipline, Tom cited state‑reported data and said the district recorded 309 incidents that led to suspension during the reported year. He said white students accounted for 167 of those incidents (about 54 percent of incidents while representing 74 percent of the student body) and that Black students accounted for 32 incidents — a 2.5‑times overrepresentation relative to their share of enrollment, down from a 6.2‑times discrepancy the previous year.
Tom told the board the district is tracking exclusionary discipline carefully and pointed to administrative changes designed to reduce disparities: before suspending a student administrators are now conferring with another administrator to review the decision, and the district is developing a larger restorative practices program. “Restorative is really saying, alright, a student made a mistake...we need to repair that relationship,” Tom said.
The board also heard that bullying reporting is low (nine incidents reported districtwide in the year covered), and attendees raised concerns that the low number may reflect underreporting. Tom described two documents created this year: a flowchart that clarifies reporting steps and a more detailed document that outlines forms and investigative steps; he said both are posted for staff and families and that the district will expand outreach so students and parents understand the process and the role of ISBE in investigations.
Board members asked about timelines and notification. Tom confirmed the district must notify parents of an investigation within 24 hours and complete and notify families of the investigation outcome within 10 days. He also said an incident found not to meet the legal definition of bullying will still be addressed under other discipline or supports.
Staff recommended continued use of Panorama plus planned parent and staff surveys to triangulate sense‑of‑belonging data and to track progress on targeted interventions including CASEL-aligned social‑emotional learning, expanded restorative practices, attendance work and activity programming to keep students engaged.
