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Board hears discipline data; staff proposes restorative practices and review of suspensions for young children
Summary
District data showed higher suspension rates in elementary years with a peak around grade 6. Staff proposed studying policies to reduce out-of-school suspensions for K–2 and expand restorative practices to address disproportionality and keep students in school.
District staff presented discipline data broken out by infraction type and ethnic code and recommended considering policies that reduce out-of-school suspensions for early elementary grades.
Staff said the district is seeing an upward trend in suspensions from kindergarten through sixth grade, with a peak in grade 6, and noted concerns about disproportionality across ethnic groups. Board members and staff discussed alternatives — including restorative practices and targeted supports such as social work and counseling — and asked for consistent implementation across sites so students do not move between schools to avoid disciplinary consequences. One board member asked how long students are removed from instruction; staff replied suspensions can range from one day to several months depending on the infraction and that the district is revising review processes to ensure documentation and progressive discipline before hearings.
Presenters suggested a future study session to consider suspension policy for K–2, examine training content for staff to address systemic issues such as bias, and identify more in-school supports to reduce out-of-school removals.
