Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Discipline topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
High school discipline policy shifts to tiered, restorative approach with Saturday detention option
Summary
The committee adopted a rebuilt discipline matrix that replaces a long punitive list with three tiers and five levels of intervention, emphasizes restorative practices and introduces Saturday detention as an intermediate sanction before suspension.
The high school's discipline section was substantially rewritten and adopted as part of the handbook update, replacing an older list-based sanctions approach with a tiered, restorative framework.
Ms. Alonzo, who led the discipline rewrite, said the new system emphasizes relationship-building and graduated responses: "We have 3 tiers and 5 levels... Levels 1 and 2 mostly are taken care of by the teacher... Level 4 is repeated high impact behavior... OSS means out of school suspension," she explained. The new framework retains teacher-level responses but adds an office detention (40 minutes after school) and Saturday detention (2–4 hours, once a month) as steps designed to teach rather than immediately suspend.
Committee members asked about exceptions for students with after-school responsibilities and special-education transportation. Ms. Alonzo confirmed administrators will use discretion for extenuating circumstances and clarified that participation in events may still be allowed if transportation can be arranged by a guardian. The discipline rewrite was adopted along with the handbook by a unanimous committee vote.
