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Board and public discuss student discipline, restorative practices and staff safety
Summary
Public commenters urged consistent discipline and restorative practices; board members and superintendent noted efforts to tighten progressive discipline, upcoming MSDE assistance in 2026, and reported approximately 80 incidents of attacks on adults this year, mostly at elementary schools.
Public commenters and board members used the May meeting to raise discipline and staff-safety concerns and to urge consistent implementation of restorative practices.
A public commenter summarized approaches to student discipline, saying the system should "establish clear expectations and use positive behavioral interventions" and argued that "opportunities for students to reflect on their behavior and learn problem solving skills" are needed to maintain academic progress. The speaker also noted that the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) "will assist with implementing restorative practices in 2026," as stated during public comment.
Board member Dr. Bonnie Ennis (identified in the transcript as "Doctor Anis" in one passage) raised a concern for staff safety, saying the district had "at least a 80 reported incidents of attacks on adults," most occurring at elementary levels. Ennis thanked the superintendent for planning "additional supports for these students so that our teachers can teach and our students can learn," and urged parental involvement to support schools.
Superintendent Dr. Dominic Stauffer and staff referenced planned supports and upcoming implementation items tied to the district’s Blueprint work. Staff also noted the district will begin additional work sessions in the fall related to county voting-district legislation and the student-member selection process; that process is separate but connected to broader district governance and planning.
The board did not adopt new discipline policy during the open meeting; items on discipline and supports were discussed as status updates, public comment and board reports. Staff previously indicated a timeline for MSDE assistance (public comment referenced 2026) but did not provide a formal implementation schedule for restorative practices during the session.
