Enforce discipline uniformly in city schools, panel says
By HAROLD GWIN
YOUNGSTOWN
A committee assigned to examine student discipline policies in the Youngstown city schools determined that the district has the appropriate policies in place.
The committee reviewed all existing polices and decided it should look at implementation, Judy Hatchner, committee facilitator and former city school administrator, told school officials in a recent report.
“We need uniformity” in enforcement of student conduct, she said.
The district’s new five-year strategic plan for improving academics shows it had a total of 5,615 student suspensions during the 2008-09 school year and 238 expulsions. Most of both were at the high-school level.
Hatchner said her committee came up with a list of recommendations for the school board to consider but advised that each needs to be studied in detail.
Marla Joliff, educational director of pupil-personnel special services, said the recommendations have been reviewed.
“It’s not something you can do overnight,” she said of the proposals. They need to be studied to determine if they are applicable to Youngstown, she told the board.
Anthony Catale, school board president, said he wants the committee to keep working to devise suggestions on how to implement its recommendations. Action steps and guidelines need to be developed, he said.
Among the key recommendations are:
Provide extensive training for administrators and teachers on The Student Code of Conduct and related policies concerning discipline while ensuring consistency in enforcement.
Provide informational meetings for parents and students regarding The Student Code of Conduct and related polices concerning discipline.
Provide appropriate intervention strategies that will result in positive behavior change for students who experience major discipline problems.
Consider creative and meaningful in-school suspension programs.
Implement community service programs and projects as positive interventions to change behavior.
Consider housing clinical-services agencies within schools with clinical staff to be used as behavioral consultants.
Develop a process for holding each building administrator and teacher accountable for the academic achievement and social climate in his or her building.