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Board hears student-safety report: suspensions and removals rose in winter period; high school tests Yondr phone pouches
Summary
The Period 1 student safety report showed an increase in removals/suspensions (82 in the winter reporting window versus 42 in the prior fall window) and a rise in violence and substance incidents in the winter——spring window. District staff described restorative, SEL and community partnerships and said the high school is piloting Yondr phone p
The board received the district—s Period 1 student safety data and a summary of ongoing school interventions. The data covered the winter——spring reporting window and included harassment, intimidation and bullying (HIB) investigations, removals/suspensions, restraints, incidents of violence, vandalism, weapons and substance incidents.
"We're gonna have a total of 15," Mr. Jefferson said when introducing HIB totals; he told the board that removals (suspensions) were 82 in the winter window compared with 42 in the fall window and that incidents of violence numbered 23 and increased from the prior period. He also noted that vandalism and weapons incidents decreased by one and that substance incidents rose.
District approach and programs
Mr. Jefferson outlined the district—s current prevention and response work: assemblies and a year-long relationship with "A Better You" for substance and SEL programming, restorative-practices training, a mental-health fair, a neurodiversity celebration week, student voice organizations (Justice Club and Student Voice Action Committee), the Panther Pantry, and a second-year Student Voice initiative run with an Arcadia University professor.
Yondr phone-pouch pilot and staff feedback
The district described a Yondr pouch program at the high school that locks student phones during the school day. Jefferson said the pilot applies to the high school only and that staff feedback has been positive.
"I definitely think that it's worthy," Jefferson said of the pouch program after describing a longer morning routine to collect pouches. He also told the board he hopes to see a reduction in incidents that stem from on-phone interactions and said anecdotal staff feedback suggests fewer incidents are escalated by immediate phone evidence when pouches are used.
Questions from the board and next steps
Board members asked about trends, whether the winter uptick could be seasonal, and whether alternative interventions (evening mediation, Center for Family Services partnerships) could reduce suspension days. Jefferson said the district will pursue outside partnerships for mediation and alternatives to extended suspension, and that the district is working with the Center for Family Services to explore after-hours programs and parent supports.
Jefferson also described a planned culture- and climate-survey rollout that school leaders expect to complete in the coming weeks; he said the district will "listen, uncover, and rediscover" the root causes before recommending changes.
Student perspective
Student board representatives told the board that student survey responses were mixed on the Yondr pouches. A student representative summarized the anonymous responses: "We don't like it, but we understand what we were doing and that this is now a good thing for all the teachers and the staff," reflecting students who see instructional benefits but are unhappy with the restriction.
Ending: District leaders said they will present Period 2 numbers later in the year, continue to monitor the Yondr pilot, pursue outside mediation partners and share results of the climate survey with the board when available.
