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Seaford board approves school-discipline improvement plans; staff point to MTSS and mental-health supports
Summary
The board approved required discipline-improvement plans for the middle school and high school after district teams worked with state staff; plans emphasize MTSS, mental-health supports and reducing suspensions below a 15% threshold over time.
SEAFORD, Del. — The Seaford School District Board of Education on June 16 approved discipline-improvement plans for the middle school and high school required under state regulation when suspension rates meet a designated threshold.
A staff member presenting the plans said the state requires a school that records suspensions for 15 percent or more of students, or 15 percent of a student subgroup, in a school year to create and submit an improvement plan. District teams met with state staff and used school teams and outside partners to develop interventions the district will implement and monitor.
Why it matters: Approval of these plans triggers a state review and public posting and commits the district to multi-year tracking. The plans aim to reduce reliance on exclusionary discipline and lower suspension percentages below 15 percent for three consecutive years, which would remove the school from the corrective list.
What the plans include
- Prevention and supports: Presenters described work to strengthen MTSS (multi-tiered system of supports), increase involvement of mental-health professionals and integrate school nurses into early-identification efforts. - Focus on major incidents: Staff said most suspensions at the middle and high school level are for serious incidents such as drug possession or major safety violations rather than routine classroom misbehavior. - Early intervention: The district reported work with coaches, counselors and outside partners to identify and support students earlier so issues do not escalate to suspensions.
Board discussion: Board members and staff discussed data trends, whether subgroups remained above thresholds and the need for strong implementation. One board member asked whether the MTSS and school-based teams were involved; presenters confirmed MTSS and building teams were part of the planning process. A motion to approve the plans carried by voice vote.
Next steps: Staff will submit the plans to the Delaware Department of Education for posting and continue planned monitoring and supports in both buildings.
