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Lewiston officials describe rising behavior severity, expulsions and reentry supports
Summary
Superintendent Jake Langley said 16 students have been expelled so far this year and described more severe student behavior patterns tied to social media; the district outlined reentry plans, restorative supports and limits on public disclosure because of FERPA.
Superintendent Jake Langley told a Jan. 28 workshop that Lewiston Public Schools has expelled 16 students so far this school year and described a trend of more severe behavior incidents that staff are addressing with disciplinary and reentry processes.
"16 students have already been expelled this year," Langley said, adding that expulsions are not something the district is proud of but are used when required to keep schools safe. He said the superintendent can use a 45-day exclusion in certain imminent-risk situations and that expulsions must be followed by a reentry plan if students seek to return.
Why it matters: Student safety and discipline policies affect families, school operations and public confidence. Langley described changes in the character of incidents and the complicating role of social media in escalating conflicts beyond the school day.
Langley and others described several constraints on public communication: FERPA protects student education records and much of what happens in disciplinary proceedings cannot be publicized in detail. Langley said this legal framework limits how the district responds to social-media claims and rumors.
Langley and members of the committee described reentry supports for expelled students. He said reentry plans typically involve assessments, counseling, restorative work, community service and sometimes mandated psychological risk assessments. Langley said most expelled students who completed the required reentry work returned and “actually did pretty well,” though he acknowledged exceptions where students reoffended.
The meeting included discussion of cell phones in schools. Several councilors and committee members raised the idea of removing phones during the school day; Langley said some students reported greater focus and fewer incidents when phones were restricted in middle school but also noted many parents want students reachable by phone for safety. Councilor Kim Gallant and others asked the district to explore the issue further.
Langley framed student behavior as a multi‑factor problem, citing social-media circulation of videos, a post‑COVID shift in social norms, and community challenges including drug and weapon incidents. He described recent incidents that involved high‑school-aged people connected to middle‑school conflicts and said the district is working with law enforcement on safety issues.
