Arlington ISD officials reported to the Board of Trustees Thursday that a year of focused work on behavior and discipline — including a district behavior task force, expanded Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) resources and restorative practices — has coincided with steep declines in referrals and serious incidents at many campuses.

Why it matters: The district said reducing classroom disruptions and fights frees instructional time and improves school climate. Trustees were shown comparative data the district described as a sharp drop in discipline incidents compared with prior years.

What the district presented: Assistant superintendent Dr. TJ Jarko and a team of PBIS and restorative‑practice specialists described a three‑part approach: gather teacher voice and diagnostic data; develop campus‑specific behavior support plans; and build capacity through ongoing professional learning for teachers and administrators. The district said the work is aligned to its board priority of improving safety and the staff experience.

Campus examples given to trustees:
- Goodman Elementary: PBIS specialists are working with a pre‑K classroom on morning check‑ins to teach emotional literacy; a teacher reported a student using the class language — “My cup is empty” — to request support instead of escalating to behavior that would require a referral.
- Workman Junior High: Counselors conduct daily social‑emotional learning lessons in ISS and updated mediation logs include check‑ins to monitor outcomes after interventions.
- Boyd High School: Principal Lee Jones and restorative‑practice staff described the Strather Peace Project, a student‑led non‑violence initiative that created Peace Ambassadors, marketing and event teams, and outreach activities; Jones reported a 48% reduction in violent offenses compared with the previous school year.

District data and next steps: Presenters said year‑to‑date discipline incidents have fallen markedly and that fights and other indicators have decreased substantially compared with the same period last year. Officials said they will continue to refine interventions, evaluate returns on focused investments and reassess progress in April and May before planning summer work.

Trustees praised the campus teams and the emphasis on teacher capacity. Several asked whether reduced referral totals reflected unreported incidents; district leaders said the decline is seen across referral types that historically required formal writeups, and they emphasized the work focuses on both accountability for serious behavior and proactive prevention.

No formal board action was taken; the item was presented for update and discussion.