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Charles County officials report improved discipline trends and new school climate strategies
Summary
District leaders presented 2024–25 school climate and safety data to the Charles County Board of Education, highlighting a rise in students with no recorded violations (to about 76%), investments in counselors and restorative practices, a pilot for chronic absenteeism, and a spotlight on Benjamin Stoddard Middle School’s PBIS ‘house’ model.
Charles County Public Schools leaders told the Board of Education on Nov. 24 that district-wide climate measures improved in 2024–25 and that staff are implementing a range of supports to sustain progress.
Dr. Linda Iverson, chief of schools, presented three-year comparisons showing that the share of students with no violations rose to about 76% in 2024–25 and that students with three or more violations decreased. Iverson emphasized that while most students are not involved in disciplinary incidents, district staff remain focused on reducing the smaller group with repeated issues.
"When I'm presenting data, I always say, just look at the color of the bars," Iverson said while walking the board through charts; she noted the blue bar for no violations lengthened in the latest year and said the district was "on the right track." The presentation highlighted persistent disruption types—disrespect/disruption, fighting, dangerous substances and weapons—while showing overall positive movement.
Dr. Mike Blanchard, director of student services, briefed the board on staffing and programming. He reported the district reduced counselor and social worker vacancies (from 16 to 6.5 since July 2024) but remains short approximately seven school psychologists; Blanchard said active recruiting and federal grant funding (Title IV, consortium grants) support training and restorative practices work.
Charmaine Young Wadi, director for student engagement and conduct, described attendance and dropout-prevention efforts. She said the district is piloting a FACE Academy partnership at Glenmont Middle School for chronically absent students and uses tiered attendance review plans, interventions such as the evidence-based RENEW program, and referrals to community mental health resources when needed.
Spotlight: Benjamin Stoddard Middle School Principal Katie described a PBIS shift to a house-based system (using a Ron Clark Academy model) for grades 6–8 to build collective efficacy and belonging: mixed-grade houses with student and staff leaders, monthly house meetings that review attendance/discipline/grades, and both individual and group rewards. Katie said the school showed improvements on Maryland Report Card measures — bullying, emotional safety, engagement and staff-student relationships — after the program began.
Jason Stoddard, director of safety and security, framed safety work as a partnership between physical-security measures and climate initiatives, saying, "student safety is an emotion" and adding the importance of communicating positive work to the school community.
What’s next: staff pointed to appendix slides with supplemental data and told the board they will continue recruiting psychologists, expanding training, and piloting family engagement and attendance programs. No formal votes were taken on the presentation.
