District 5 outlines discipline framework, cites data and requests additional expectation coaches

Director Kelly Brown and Chief of Student Services and Planning Dr. John Harris presented the district’s discipline approach on Oct. 27, telling the board the district uses a model of accountability plus intervention and classifies misconduct into three levels: level 1 (misconduct), level 2 (disruptive conduct), and level 3 (criminal conduct). They described a four‑pillar implementation—law/policy/procedures, communication, active/engaging supervision and documentation—and introduced SimpleDiscipline data showing positive referrals and areas for targeted improvement.

Brown said interventions include restorative practices, social worker referrals, check‑in/check‑out mentoring and mental‑health supports and that accountability is applied according to the district code of conduct and state guidance. She said level 3 offenses (for example, firearms, drugs or alcohol on campus) require a recommendation for expulsion and law enforcement involvement; level 2 offenses (fights, major disruption) can result in suspension or expulsion recommendation depending on severity; level 1 offenses (dress code, tardies, IDs) are handled with an array of responses, from conferences to in‑school consequences.

Brown presented district discipline data from the new SimpleDiscipline platform: she said 14,424 students had no referrals so far this year, there were nearly 1,000 Stop It anonymous reports routed to administrators, roughly 58 expulsion hearings in the first quarter (a level not seen since 2019) and more than 4,000 positive office referrals. The data, she said, is being used to identify hot spots by time of day, location and grade so staffing and supervision can be targeted.

Multiple trustees and principals discussed practical implications: the district has finite administrator capacity to enforce level 1–3 incidents; Brown explained how one major incident can draw several administrators away from other duties; trustees and principals debated consistency of consequences for repeated level 1 conduct and how BIPs (behavior intervention plans) and special education protections complicate uniform responses.

As a near‑term operational request, district leadership proposed funding eight additional expectation coaches for secondary campuses and expanded Tier 2 academic interventions (supplemental tutoring/enrichment after school) to be included in a proposed general fund budget amendment. Dr. Ross told the board the amendment would come forward for discussion in December and, if the district’s November 21 45th‑day funding true‑up supports it, for a January vote.

Trustees emphasized the community role in student discipline and urged stronger parent partnerships. Brown said principals receive regular professional development and that the district will continue to refine policies and practices, especially around bullying, vaping and other recurring hot spots.