Principals report discipline trends: fewer physical fights but continued referrals near break

Principals briefed the Gilmer County Board on discipline data, noting week-over-week referral changes, location breakdowns and repeated-incident counts, and emphasizing the district’s growing use of in‑school suspension and the alternative learning center (ALC).

Mister Price — introduced to the board as the presenter of the discipline report — highlighted patterns in the district’s heat‑map data and said some referral categories increase near the winter break. He told the board, “physical fights without injury, last year, 53. This year, 7,” and described continued focus on classroom engagement and PBIS to reduce disruptive behavior.

The presentation explained the district’s level-based referral system (levels 1–4), noting no level‑4 incidents this year but some level‑3 incidents, and reviewed a chart of repeated referrals by student (several students had multiple referrals). Principals and board members discussed inconsistencies in how incidents are coded — for example, the broad category of “disruptive/disrespectful conduct” — and the importance of clear parent communication and record-keeping to support long-term analysis.

Interventions and outcomes: Board members and staff described the SAT (Student Assistance Team) process, IEP/behavior plans and the use of credit recovery and in-school suspension to keep students progressing academically while addressing behavior. The ALC was described as a program that lets students remain in school and receive instruction rather than being excluded.

What’s next: Principals will continue weekly reporting, refine coding for behavior categories and return to the board with any requests for program changes or additional supports; the superintendent said a fuller attendance report will come after the holiday break.