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District task force begins drafting progressive-discipline guidance, aims to give board a proposal in June
Summary
A 22-member progressive-discipline task force with representation from 11 schools is drafting a guidance document for district use; the committee focused early sessions on PBIS and plans to return a draft to the board in June.
Dr. Atkinson Dwina, co-chair of the district’s progressive-discipline task force, reported that the committee has completed three sessions and aims to deliver a draft guidance document to the school board in June.
Dr. Atkinson said the task force’s ‘‘charge was to review PPS student discipline policies and procedures and develop a draft proposal of a progressive discipline document. The document will be used to guide the work of schools in supporting positive behavior development and in managing unexpected behaviors that detract from the learning environment.’’
The task force includes 22 members representing 11 schools and a mix of roles: seven teachers, four school administrators, two educational technicians, two board-certified behavior analysts, three central office staff, a parent, a social worker, a guidance counselor, and a school culture and climate coordinator. Dr. Atkinson said at least four members identify as BIPOC.
Audre Cabral and Dr. Atkinson described the task force’s recent sessions: initial logistics, a learning session on PBIS systems and behavioral data, and a session that included Lincoln’s PBIS work and a discussion focused on tier 3 behaviors and special-education intersections. Cabral said the Lincoln materials showed how schools had constructed tiered PBIS documents for consistent expectations across middle schools.
Board members asked about member selection and continued oversight. Dr. Atkinson said the district received more than 40 requests to join and assembled a 22-member panel to be representative across roles and schools; she also said staff plan targeted outreach to get feedback from transportation staff and family and community specialists where schedules had made participation difficult.
Task force members planned another meeting Tuesday afternoon; Dr. Atkinson and Cabral said they will prepare guidelines and a draft to bring to the board in June. The board discussed whether the final product should become board policy or a guidance document; staff said the plan is to produce a guidance document schools will use, with the option for the board to review policy language later.
No formal board action was taken May 6; the task force work is ongoing.
