District administrators presented second‑marking‑period discipline data at the Feb. 20 meeting that showed increases in two items the board requested be tracked: racial/ethnic intimidation incidents and threats to school officials or students.

Superintendent Dr. Reppert explained that when a Title IX or similar harassment/discrimination allegation is involved it triggers additional processes and supports for both the complainant and respondent. The report showed three additional incidents of racial/ethnic intimidation during the period and a rise in reported threats, bringing the year-to-date count cited in the briefing to 10.

Board member Mary Lee Hall asked specifically how the district’s new cell-phone policy is working in practice and whether staff have the resources to enforce it. Dr. Reppert and other administrators said they have seen fewer classroom infractions since stricter expectations were implemented and that K–8 students are generally keeping devices in bags or lockers; staff agreed to collect more precise data.

The board asked for a focused report at the March meeting that would include both counts of cell-phone related infractions since the policy change and qualitative impressions from teachers and building administrators about whether classroom distraction has decreased.

Why it matters: Increases in threats or harassment incidents carry safety and support implications; cell-phone use and enforcement affect classroom management and instructional time.

What’s next: District staff will return to the March meeting with quantitative data on cell-phone infractions since the policy change and qualitative feedback from staff across buildings.