Superintendent reports low return rate for students in DJJ program; board cites targeted interventions
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Summary
Dr. Bennett reported that of 37 students served in the DJJ program this year, 3 have returned to the program (the transcript characterizes this as 'approximately 8.8%') and 18.3% were repeat offenders, supporting continued use of targeted Tier 2 and Tier 3 behavioral interventions rather than broad punitive measures.
Dr. Bennett presented Item 13, an update on students served through the juvenile justice (DJJ) program and related behavioral interventions.
According to Dr. Bennett, the district served 37 students in DJJ this year; "only 3 have returned to the program representing approximately 8.8%," the transcript records. He also said data show 18.3% of incidents were repeats. Dr. Bennett said those figures indicate a relatively low level of repeat involvement and support the district's use of targeted Tier 2 and Tier 3 behavioral interventions and coordinated services among DJJ, juvenile officers (JOPs) and the DeSoto School District.
Dr. Bennett credited student services, social workers, guidance personnel and teachers for the results and emphasized that repeat offenses were limited to a relatively small number of students.
Why it matters: The DJJ numbers are used by district staff to justify continuing and focusing intervention resources rather than adopting broad punitive measures; outcomes affect student services planning and resource allocation.
No formal policy changes or binding decisions were recorded during the presentation; board members publicly praised the work and asked no recorded follow-up motions in the transcript.