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Cumberland schools detail restorative discipline process for middle grades
Summary
District administrators presented a video and explanation of a restorative discipline system at Cumberland Middle School, describing a 4‑step investigation process, reliance on student statements and bus video when relevant, and supports such as target teams and check‑in/check‑out.
CUMBERLAND — Middle‑school administrators on Thursday detailed how the district handles student discipline, saying the approach focuses on learning and repairing harm rather than only punishment.
A video shown to the School Committee laid out a four‑step process: investigation to determine facts, written statements from involved students, review of the student handbook for applicable policy, and communication with parents. The presentation emphasized that most students receive zero or one office referral in a school year and that the in‑depth process is reserved for exceptions.
"The driving question is never just what's the consequence? It's what's the teachable moment," the presentation narrator said, summarizing the district's philosophy. Administrators said the process includes reviewing bus video when incidents occur on transportation and collecting written accounts from all students involved to ensure multiple perspectives are heard.
Superintendent Dr. Thornton and Ms. Coughlin, who helped introduce the item, described a toolkit of supports used after an incident: restorative circles or mediations, referral to the target team of specialists, and programs such as check‑in/check‑out that connect students with a trusted adult.
"It's all about providing targeted support where it's needed, not about policing every student," the presentation said, noting that the process is designed to be transparent and consistent across the district's schools.
Committee members praised the thoroughness of the presentation and the effort to share those procedures with parents; staff said the video would be circulated to help reduce confusion about how incidents are handled. The presentation closed with an invitation for parents to engage with the process as part of the district's consistent communication strategy.
The committee did not take action tied to the presentation; it was informational.
Next steps: administrators said the video would be distributed to parents and the district would continue aligning practices across middle‑school sites.
