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Lewiston school committee hears widespread concern over student behavior, discusses policy and early-intervention steps
Summary
Parents, teachers and committee members urged stronger, consistent discipline and earlier social-emotional supports after multiple public comments and committee discussion about bullying, assaults, bathroom safety and classroom disruptions.
A broad cross-section of parents, teachers and school committee members told the Lewiston Public Schools committee on Feb. 3 that student behavior — from swearing and fights to alleged assaults and bathroom safety concerns — is eroding learning time and teacher morale.
During a long public-comment period, several speakers shared personal accounts: Janet Boden, a school committee member, read a letter from her daughter describing repeated humiliation by a teacher, lost assignments and frequent fights in hallways. ‘‘I have been yelled at and humiliated in front of my classmates by a teacher,’’ Boden read. Parents and staff described incidents that included a concussion on a bus, pepper spray at school and a persistent culture of disrespect, especially at the middle- and high-school levels.
The concerns prompted an extended committee discussion about…
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