District reports fewer referrals and suspensions overall, notes elementary increases in some incident types

Wicomico County Public Schools presented a student-discipline report showing overall decreases in referrals and suspensions compared with the prior year, while board members and staff highlighted localized increases at the elementary level and emphasized improved reporting and targeted interventions.

Student and Family Services presenter Missus Miles told the board that total referrals fell from 16,383 in the prior year to 14,065, a 14.1 percent decrease. The number of suspensions decreased from 1,975 to 1,874, a reduction of about 5.1 percent. Suspension days fell from 4,819 to 4,147.

Why it matters: district leaders said the numbers are meaningful only if paired with local investigation and intervention. Missus Miles and other staff stressed that some categories require close attention: elementary referrals increased in the comparison and the number of recorded attacks on adults at the elementary level rose (the presenter cited 176 attacks in discussion), which board members said is “too many.” Staff said better reporting may explain some increases—administrators and teachers are more consistently documenting…