Board approves peer-mediation pilot at Beverly Hills High School to train students as mediators

The Beverly Hills Unified School District board on April 15 approved a pilot program with KMC (Kids Managing Conflict) to create a student-led peer mediation and conflict-resolution program at Beverly Hills High School.

Why this matters: School leaders told the board the pilot aims to expand students' conflict-resolution skills, create a peer-led mediation structure and reduce the use of suspensions and other exclusionary discipline by providing structured alternatives run by trained students with staff supervision.

Program design and scope - The proposed program provides training to both staff and students and is tailored to the high school campus by KMC instructors. The curriculum was developed in partnership with Pepperdine Law School mediation programs and other justice partners; the vendor brings an established mediation curriculum that trains students to act as mediators under supervision. - The pilot will be funded from the high school site budget (Resource 10) and run initially for three school terms, with data collection and evidence-based monitoring of outcomes to determine whether to expand districtwide. Board members and staff emphasized that the pilot does not create a standalone elective initially but could be integrated into existing programs such as wellness center activities, peer counseling, service-learning, ASB or Link Crew.

Board discussion and conditions - Trustees asked whether training would happen during class time, as an elective, or integrated with other campus programs. District staff said the program could be delivered in several ways depending on campus scheduling and would be tailored to the school site team’s needs. - Trustees asked for examples of evaluation metrics. Staff and the vendor said KMC will collect data to measure impact, including the effect on suspension counts and bullying incidents, and will tailor measurements to the high school context. - The board confirmed the pilot was site-budget funded and that the agreement was consistent with district procurement rules for that funding source.

Quote - Assistant Principal Decaturale (presenting): "The need really is to create a comprehensive approach to our intervention support and social emotional learning...we don't have the student voice, the student-led piece solidified yet."

Next steps - The pilot will begin if staff completes vendor onboarding and the school site finalizes the rollout plan; the vendor and site administrators will present progress reports and data on impact to the board.

Speakers (officials) - Assistant Principal Decaturale — presented rationale and program details - Dr. Stern, Trustee — asked procedural and programmatic questions - Scott Hasty — Acting Superintendent (commented on site-funded pilot funding approach)

Provenance - topicintro: transcript block starting 4413.545 — Assistant Principal Decaturale summarizes KMC program: "So the need really is to create a comprehensive approach to our intervention support and social emotional learning...we don't have the student voice, the student led piece solidified yet." {"block_id":"s=4413.545","local_start":0,"local_end":220,"evidence_excerpt":"So the need really is to create a comprehensive approach to our intervention support and social emotional learning...we don't have the student voice, the student led piece solidified yet.","tc_start":"00:44:53","tc_end":"00:47:53","reason_code":"topicintro"} - topfinish: transcript block starting 5262.2847 — vote call and result recorded for KMC approval: {"block_id":"s=5262.2847","local_start":0,"local_end":120,"evidence_excerpt":"May I get a motion for approval of agreement with KMC Kids Managing Conflict, please? I'll make a motion for the approval...I'll call for the vote. Missus Marcus...Mister Stewart? Yes. Missus Sabag? Yes. Thank you. Doctor Stern? Yes. Thank you. And I am a yes.","tc_start":"00:53:22","tc_end":"00:55:03","reason_code":"topicfinish"}