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Board flagged rise in suspensions and substance-possession incidents; administrator calls vaping an ‘existential threat’ to students
Summary
During the Dec. 17 meeting, a board member noted suspensions doubled year‑over‑year and substance-possession incidents rose sharply; Dr. Ripley attributed some behavior changes to post‑COVID regression and urged culture‑focused approaches over heavy reliance on suspension.
A board member at the High Point Regional Board of Education’s Dec. 17 meeting pressed administrators for detail after the suspension report showed a rise in incidents, including a year‑over‑year increase from seven to 14 suspensions and an increase in substance‑possession incidents from two to 13.
“I have a question on, item 3, the suspension report… it’s doubled from last year with 14 incidents versus 7. Substance possession, we have 13 instances versus 2 last year,” the board member asked, requesting context for the increases.
Dr. Ripley responded that the district is concerned about the numbers and emphasized that vaping presents a particular risk. “This is an existential threat in our opinion to student well‑being, particularly the nature of we don't always know what's in those vapes,” Ripley said, and described a broader post‑COVID behavioral regression that the district has been addressing.
Ripley told the board the district has tried many approaches and that while staff do not favor “copious suspensions,” some disciplinary measures have been necessary as the district seeks to improve student culture. He said the district plans to reassess the numbers over time and hopes to move toward more student‑centered strategies.
Board members and administrators discussed the need for clearer data and monitoring. No new disciplinary policy or formal change was adopted at the meeting; the discussion focused on interpretation of the suspension report and the district’s ongoing efforts to support students and reduce incidents.
