District reports sharp drop in drug-related long-term suspension hearings; credits diversion program and partners

District staff reported Jan. 14 that discipline hearings tied to drug use on high school campuses have fallen since 2023, and officials said a diversion program and partnerships with Pinal County agencies are major contributors.

"One of my roles in Florence Unified is to oversee discipline and safety," a district administrator who presented discipline data told the board. He said the district compared the first half of each year to make an "apples to apples" comparison: drug-related long-term suspension hearings accounted for 53% of such hearings in 2023, 28% in 2024 and 14% so far in the comparable period this school year.

District staff attributed the decline to a diversion program that allows some students to participate in interventions instead of progressing to repeated punitive hearings. The presenter said partnerships with the Pinal County Health Department and the Pinal County Sheriff's Office have supported the diversion work and helped reduce repeat incidents on campuses.

Board members and staff also expressed concerns about student vaping. The presenter said vaping has caused significant campus damage, including at Boston Butte High School where a lift pump required replacement after vape devices were flushed down a toilet; the presenter characterized that repair as a roughly $10,000 expense to taxpayers.

A board member noted the district's interest in discouraging vaping and in involving parents and community partners in prevention. The district did not provide a formal written breakdown of diversion outcomes or a public accounting of exact program costs during the meeting; the presenter described the figures as drawn from the district's discipline hearing data and presented the comparison method (first half of each year) to the board.