In January of 2015, the Student Discipline Task Force was created to analyze the division’s current student discipline data. Over the course of the past year, the task force has met to look at the school division’s discipline data as well as research studies and discipline reports from other divisions in order to come to their recommendations.Feb. 2, the task force presented the following recommendations to the School Board.
- Recommendation One: Training for Transformation (this would include divisionwide training on discipline disproportionality, discipline training for all principals and assistant principals that includes cultural awareness and competency, divisionwide Mandt Training with three-year recertification and building staff capacity to increase cultural competence and reduce implicit bias – principals trained and partnered with dedicated culturally competent teachers);
- Recommendation Two: Increase the number of school psychologists;
- Recommendation Three: Mandate mediation to be the first step in the Discipline Guidelines for all offenses but the most serious offenses;
- Recommendation Four: Divisionwide implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS); and
- Recommendation Five: Establishment of an Office of Opportunity and Achievement (OOA)
Those interested in viewing more information about the recommendations and offering feedback can visit e-Town Hall, the school division’s online forum.These recommendations are here for your review and will be available for your feedback through March 1.