District presents HIB and discipline data, flags staffing and information-sharing challenges
Summary
Director Callahan and the superintendent reviewed SSDS discipline and HIB reporting, described a multi-step review process, noted inconsistent sending‑district data and a recurring vacancy in the school‑psychologist role that reduces investigation and training capacity.
Director Callahan presented the district’s SSDS reporting framework and a year‑over‑year approach to identify trends by building and demographic pockets.
Callahan explained the review workflow and the district’s approach to context: "These findings are going through 4 sets of eyes," she said, describing building reviewers, district-level checks and superintendent sign-off. She emphasized that top-line reported data are a starting point for deeper review and that context such as new staff, training, or reporting practices can explain apparent spikes.
Board members asked whether anomalies might reflect new staff or changes in reporting rather than true behavioral shifts. Callahan and the superintendent said the district runs disaggregated spreadsheets twice a year to identify pockets by grade, gender, race and classification and then designs targeted interventions.
The superintendent noted operational constraints: "This is currently our third year in 5 where there is a leave being taken by one of our school psychologists," and said that being short a psychologist affects the district’s capacity to complete investigations and training.
As a proactive measure, the superintendent described a revamped freshman seminar implemented this year to get in front of incoming students earlier and create positive relationships with staff and older students. He also said some sending districts provide minimal student information on entry, and the district is working to improve those data flows.
Board members requested additional context when viewing school-by-school numbers, including whether staffing changes or trainings could explain increases in reported incidents. District leaders committed to including that explanatory context in future reports.
Next steps: district staff will continue routine data reviews, provide more context in reports for anomalous changes and pursue staffing stability for investigative and training needs.
