For some time now, we have been getting reports on the blogs of principals being brow beaten by the current Superintendent of Schools for suspending students. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that there is not just one or two students in a specific classroom who are disruptive, teachers/students who come to school to teach/learn are dealing with several disruptive students in one classroom. They act out, get a referral written (may be removed from class), come right back to class energized and continue disrupting.
Until the School Board and the Superintendent of Schools can come up with a better solution for handling the disruptive students (who look forward to in school suspensions) there is still an obligation that this District has to the children who behave and come to school to learn. I commend the principals who are looking out for the best interest of the students who cooperate and come to school looking for an education.
As a parent/volunteer who has experienced disruptive classrooms up close and personal, I would encourage principals to continue following the current procedure and discipline and suspend students where warranted. The current Superintendent of Schools may not like it - but as long as you are following the procedure that is currently on the books, what she gon do?
Suspensions on rise this year in District 150 schools
The School Board was given a first-quarter discipline report by Bill Salzman, the district's director of student affairs and formerly principal at Manual. Salzman's report, which compared the first nine weeks of this school year to the same period in 2010, showed there have been 1,125 suspensions that account for a total of 3,028 missed school days.
That's an increase of 72 suspensions from last year:
Manual Academy (253/161)
Manual Academy (253/161)
Peoria High School (193/211)
Lincoln Middle School (116/50)
Glen Oak Middle School (52/48)
CLOYD: "Looking at the data, it looks like Lincoln is completely and totally out of control… And Manual isn't much better. These behavior problems are just appalling. Just ridiculous.”
CLOYD: "The disruption it has caused for the students who want to be there and do their job and learn, by one or two students who can't get it right and won't get it, is absolutely atrocious."
CLOYD: "It's completely unacceptable and we've got to get this fixed."
SALZMAN: “The increase in suspensions can be attributed to a handful of repeat offenders who have been suspended multiple times”
CLOYD: "Then why are they still in these schools?"
SALZMAN: Building principals have been inconsistent in their enforcement of the district's policy on cellphones, which requires students to keep the phones turned off and put away during school hours. Students using cellphones during lunch and transition times have caused a number of problems, such as the pregnant Manual student who was injured when she allegedly tried to record video of a lunchroom fight.
And in addressing an increase in discipline cases in the primary schools, at least two of which involved students bringing knives to school,
SALZMAN: "In my opinion, more problems in the grade schools is a reflection of what's happening in this town.
"What's happening on the streets is showing up in our schools." Source