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Laredo ISD reports drop in discipline incidents in first six weeks; trustees seek clearer parent guidance on process
Summary
Laredo ISD reported a net decline in discipline incidents during the first six weeks of the school year, with total incidents falling by 32 and vape-related incidents dropping by 11, district officials said Monday.
Laredo ISD officials presented discipline data for the first six weeks of the school year on Monday and told trustees total incidents decreased from the same period last year by 32 incidents; vape-related incidents (including THC vapes) also declined by 11.
Doctor Oscar Perez, executive director for health and occupational safety, introduced the report and asked Doctor Lopez, coordinator for student discipline and student relations, to review coding and counts. Doctor Lopez stressed that the charts show incidents, not the number of students involved—one incident can include multiple students. "These are incidents, not the number of students that are involved," Lopez told trustees.
The presentation reviewed PEIMS discipline codes and definitions used by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), including code 41 for fighting (mutual combat) and newer TEA codes for incidents added over the summer. Trustees and staff discussed the overlap between TEA coding and the Texas Penal Code, particularly the assault standard (Penal Code 22.01), and how due process and campus investigations determine administrative outcomes and whether cases are referred to prosecutorial agencies.
Chief Hale and other law-enforcement representatives explained the process for evaluating whether an incident should generate criminal charges, noting staff look for an aggressor and the elements required by the prosecutor’s office. District and police staff also said many incidents do not result in criminal charges but may still be handled administratively by the district.
Trustees asked for more clarity for parents on investigative and reporting pathways. Trustee Juan Ramirez said parents often do not understand the timeline or the difference between administrative discipline and criminal prosecution and urged the district to hold community sessions explaining processes and timelines. District staff agreed to consider parent outreach explaining steps, reporting channels, and how law enforcement and school administrators coordinate.
