At Teacher/Professional Consultation meetings with the administration, Alliance representatives outlined the concerns: lack of enforcement of consequences for violations of the Student Code of Conduct, lack of campus administrative support, discipline referrals not being returned, campus requirements for numerous steps prior to discipline referrals, and need for support for teachers in need of improved classroom management.
On March 11, the Alliance held an open meeting to gather ideas for solutions.
Detailed work on recommendations and a plan of action were developed by an Alliance Discipline Action Team.
On May 3, the Alliance launched a discipline campaign aimed at getting some changes in place for the start of this school year. Door signs, stickers, and a letter in support of a school board resolution were distributed to Alliance Reps to use at their worksites.
In May, the Alliance Discipline Action Team and Alliance leaders met with school board members to talk with them in depth about the concerns and possible solutions.
In Consultation, the Alliance team presented recommendations for addressing the issues.
On a survey the Alliance conducted as part of the “Grow Our Schools Grant,” parents said safety was one of the main reasons they chose to send their child to a non-district school.
On May 17, Alliance president Shelley Potter addressed the school board calling on the Board and the administration to work in collaboration with the Alliance on student discipline.
In late May, Superintendent Duron notified Shelley Potter that the District wanted to work with the Alliance on a joint campaign.
On July 22, Alliance leaders Shelley Potter and Gracie Oviedo met with Dr. Duron and Cora Johns (who now oversees special projects for the District) to begin discussions on the joint discipline campaign. It was an excellent initial meeting. The importance of each school having a campus-wide student behavior management plan based on a common commitment was agreed upon. Ms. Johns committed to addressing this need with principals – finding out which schools already have a campus-wide discipline plan and having principals set up time with their staff for discussion. A draft list of components that should be included in a campus-wide plan was developed: set of core values, set of rules, character education, set of progressive consequences, and common commitment. Also, there was agreement on conducting a mid-year student discipline survey of staff and parents by campus (also of students at secondary level). Questions for the survey will be developed jointly.
A joint task force, composed of some members of the Alliance Discipline Action Team, some members from the Alliance Consultation Team, and some administrators appointed by the administration met on Tuesday August 17th to begin the development of the joint campaign. The Alliance presented a list of both preventive and proactive solutions (click here to view them) to the Discipline Action Team. Of the proposed solutions, the group agreed that each campus should have a campus-wide behavior management plan based on a common commitment. The behavior management plan would include rules (for both the classroom and campus), character components (core values), progressive consequences, common commitment (getting the staff's input), and an orientation of new employees and students. The next team meeting will take place on October 19th.
Watch for more details on the discipline campaign in next week's newsletter.
Discipline Documents:
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