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District reports declines in vaping, alcohol and some discipline incidents after new prevention efforts
Summary
Staff and principals presented the Strategy 2 report on bullying prevention, nicotine and drug trends and discipline. Data showed decreases in alcohol and vaping rates in sampled grades and an overall push to favor ISS over OSS, while bullying via digital platforms remains a concern.
Derby Public Schools administrators presented a year-end status report May 27 on bullying prevention, nicotine and drug trends and school-discipline data across elementary, middle and high schools. The district has implemented Character Strong staff training, deployed vape detectors, and adjusted practices to favor in-school suspension (ISS) over out-of-school suspension (OSS) where appropriate.
Clint Shipley and Donna Osborne summarized the district’s approach and said the Character Strong modules were delivered during February in-service days. The Kansas Communities That Care survey (administered in fall to sixth, eighth, 10th and 12th graders) showed modest declines in recent years for vaping (from 8.7% to 8.4% in the sample cited), marijuana (from 11.7% to 10.7%) and alcohol (from 6.1% to 3% in one comparison). Administrators described the declines as “small but positive,” noting the district still lags the state on several indicators and that continued effort is needed.
At the elementary level administrators reported low absolute counts for drug-related incidents but flagged an upward trend in ISS/OSS referrals since the remote-learning years; they emphasized consistency in reporting and in-school interventions. Middle-school data showed an increase in discipline incidents after the pandemic and then a gradual decline as interventions expanded; the district expanded vape detectors countywide after a pilot, and staff reported fewer bathroom vaping complaints. At the high school, nicotine, drug and alcohol incidents spiked in 2021-22 and have trended downward since.
Administrators said that ISS is being used deliberately to keep more students in school where possible and that expanded counseling, mediation and supervision strategies accompany the discipline shift. Board members praised the work and urged continued monitoring. No formal board action was requested or taken on the report; administrators said they will keep the board updated on trends and interventions.
