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Board reviews first reading to extend long‑term suspension window to two years
Summary
At a first reading, district leaders proposed revising suspension and expulsion procedures to allow long‑term suspensions of up to two years (730 days) rather than one, with legal review cited; staff said long‑term suspensions would be recorded and explained the difference between suspension and expulsion.
The Apache Junction Unified District governing board heard a first reading to revise Policy 5‑306A on suspension and expulsion procedures that would extend the district’s long‑term suspension period to two years.
Dr Papalardo and staff said the change was recommended after consultation with the district’s hearing officer and by comparing practices in neighboring districts. Under the draft language staff presented, a long‑term suspension could be for up to two calendar years (730 days), a change staff said would limit appeal windows and help administrators address serious safety incidents.
“Other districts are also choosing this route because they want to keep their school safe,” a staff presenter said during the discussion. Legal counsel reviewed the draft policy, staff told the board, and administrators explained that a long‑term suspension is an administrative discipline recorded after a hearing, while an expulsion decision requires additional procedures including possible executive‑session discussion and deliberation.
Board members asked whether the two‑year period is calendar days and how the suspension record would follow a student to other districts; staff clarified it refers to calendar days and that suspensions would be recorded so admitting districts would have notice.
Because this was a first reading, the board did not adopt the policy at this meeting; staff said the item will return for action at a later meeting with the revised language.
