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Positive Youth Development highlights falling suspensions and expanded restorative supports
Summary
The district's Positive Youth Development director described three teams (attendance, bullying & conflict, youth court), said suspension rates fell to 3.8% last year and were 2.1% in January, and outlined outreach, training and youth court programs meant to reduce repeat suspensions and chronic absenteeism.
Marlene Bikindovo, director of Positive Youth Development, told the council her department's three teams address attendance, bullying/conflict and student discipline alternatives through youth court and restorative practices.
"So as you can see, last year we reduced down to 3.8 for the suspension rate," Bikindovo said, and she reported the district's January rate at 2.1 percent. She and other staff credited cross-department collaboration and site-based restorative practices for the decline.
Bikindovo described the attendance team's work with SARB/SART interventions, staff and parent workshops, school-site analysis of attendance data and coordination with foster/homeless liaisons to remove barriers. On chronic absenteeism, she said the district peaked after the COVID shutdown (about 44.7%) and has since reduced rates (to 28.2% in a recent year) and is trending lower this year.
On bullying and conflict, Bikindovo outlined a multi-step process: site screening of reports, trained interventions, restorative mediation and an "undercover anti-bullying team" used when needed. She said the district trains site counselors and administrators so many incidents can be handled on site rather than escalated.
The youth court program uses student volunteers as jurors and offers a restorative alternative to suspension. Bikindovo said students who volunteer for youth court gain leadership experience and schools that implement tiered restorative strategies have seen fewer repeat suspensions.
Bikindovo encouraged councils and site leaders to contact Positive Youth Development for training, to refer students and to learn how youth court operates. The presentation included data slides and closed with an invitation for questions.
