Rochester School Board hears midyear report on discipline, attendance and anti‑bullying efforts

Rochester School Board members on Jan. 9 heard a midyear report on school climate, discipline and attendance that district leaders said shows fewer out‑of‑school suspensions, improved attendance and expanding preventive efforts such as MTSS, PBIS and undercover anti‑bullying teams.

The report, led by Jackie Shirey, the district’s director of positive youth development, compared fall 2024 discipline and attendance data with the same period a year earlier and outlined next steps including a discipline alignment team, additional restorative practices and a spring Panorama student survey to capture student voice.

Shirey said the district’s out‑of‑school suspension (OSS) numbers declined compared with last year and that administrators are using graduated sanctions — including in‑school suspension (ISS), detentions and restorative meetings — to keep students in class when appropriate. “We wanna hold our students accountable so that we can also prepare them to be lifelong citizens, making responsible choices in our community,” Shirey said. She added that ISS is typically “a day that’s filled with doing coursework, either stuff that’s assigned by teachers or catching up on outstanding work,” and usually includes a restorative conversation with a counselor or social worker.

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