Superintendent
Mulvey introduced the review of Student Discipline in Quincy Public Schools, which
is regulated under Massachusetts General Law, including Chapter 222 of the
Acts of 2012. The Acts made significant changes to student
discipline, particularly for Special Education students but affects all
Quincy Public Schools students. There
is an emphasis on building positive school cultures through evidence-based
practices as prevention, implementing progressive discipline, and
implementing alternatives to avoid suspension to address misconduct. Superintendent Mulvey that discipline is
individual, each case must be addressed based on the facts involved. Access to education must be provided even during
out of building suspension or expulsion, through tutoring or online programs
such as Accelus.
Ms. Perkins
reviewed the processes, defined in statuatory sections 37H(a), 37H(b), 37 ½,
and 37H 3/4, the emergency removal process, the process for conducting a
hearing, and the right to appeal to the Superintendent of Schools (for
suspensions of 10 or more days). There
are procedures and timelines defined under the statutes. For students with disabilities (IEP or
504), a manifest determination hearing must be held with the IEP team prior
to the student being suspended for 10 days or longer (single incident or
cumulative in a school year). If the
behavior was the result of the student’s disability or the failure of the
school to properly implement the student’s IEP, then suspension or expulsion
cannot be imposed. When students move
into a new district, these procedures must be implemented even for existing
situations.
Discipline data
is reported to the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education under
the Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) and School Safety & Discipline
Report (SSDR). The SSDR is used to
identify schools and districts with data reflecting significant disparities
in the rate of suspension and expulsion.
Reporting of 2021-2022 data for the CRDC will happen in Fall 2022, the
SSDR is submitted in summer.
Data was shared
for the previous four school years (2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020, and
2020-2021). Ms. Perkins noted that the
2020-2021 data reflects the pandemic and that many students attended school
through remote learning all year.
There were declines between 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 due to the
participation in DESE’s Rethinking Discipline initiative for middle and high
schools. Data for 2021-2022 will be
shared with School Committee after it is compiled at the end of the school
year.
Mrs. Lebo asked
about discretion at the school level, Ms. Perkins said that the principals
and assistant principals consult with Superintendent Mulvey, Ms. Perkins, and
Ms. Papile to determine discipline or alternative approaches to managing
incidents. Mrs. Lebo is concerned
about establishing expectations about consistency for the Principals. Superintendent Mulvey said the monthly
Principal team meetings are an opportunity to reinforce this process with
staff.
Superintendent
Mulvey said that there have been templates developed for consistent
notification across the district.
Assistance is offered especially for the most complicated cases.
Mr. Gutro asked
if there are assemblies that detail to students disruptive actions and
consequences, Superintendent Mulvey confirmed that these are done at the
middle and high school level. The
Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook is available on the QPS
website. Superintendent Mulvey said
that Parent Academy events have been held on social media, vaping, and mental
health issues that lead to in-school behavioral problems.
Mrs. Cahill
asked what happens when a student’s parents are non-responsive, Ms. Perkins
said this is a challenge, reasonable effort must be made to engage the
parent, but the process can go on.
Mrs. Cahill asks if the student appeals the suspension, will this be
removed from their record and the incident is still documented even if there
was remediation.
Mr. Bregoli is
concerned about bullying, asked if state monitoring of discipline impacts the
principals implementation of effective discipline. Ms. Perkins said that the pandemic has
really had a heightened impact on our students, the incident rate is higher
this year. Quincy Public Schools was
cited in 2017-2018 for over-suspension of students of color at two middle
schools.
Mr. Bregoli
asked about disciplinary consequences for bullying, Superintendent Mulvey
said that because of student confidentiality, the student and family cannot
know the disposition. The gravity and
specific nature of the offenses are factors, and significant discipline has
been imposed.
Mr. Bregoli
feels that bullying is underreported in elementary and middle schools, Ms.
Perkins said there is a specific definition of persistent and harmful
behavior that must be met to meet the criteria for something being classified
as bullying.
Mr. Bregoli
noted that the Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook spells out
specific behaviors and consequences.
Mr. Bregoli
asked about the process for enrolling a student who was excluded in a
previous district who moves into a new district. Ms. Perkins said the entire process must be
followed in the new district to determine whether the exclusion can be
upheld, but educational access must be provided. Superintendent Mulvey said these can be
very complicated and we sometimes need the support of the Quincy Police
Department with this process.
Mrs. Hubley
asked about incident reports being in student files, Ms. Perkins said the
historic conduct history is visible on Aspen and is a factor when considering
discipline.
Mrs. Lebo said
that effect of the pandemic on students is profound, there needs to be a
discussion about the use of cell phones and getting students back to basics.
Mr. Gutro asked
about information sharing between districts, student discipline records are
supposed to be forwarded but some school systems are more consistent than
others. Superintendent Mulvey said we
share the information on our students when they move on to other districts.
Mr. Gutro asked
if there are more discipline issues with transfer students, Superintendent
Mulvey said the rate is is consistent year to year.
Mayor Koch
thanked the presenters, this is a view into all the work that goes on behind
the scenes. Mayor Koch agrees that
cell phone usage has become an issue and would like to be sure that the
message is being consistently sent that appropriate discipline is
important.
Mayor Koch asked
if the GOALS program is a typical program statewide. Ms. Perkins said several other cities have
these programs, but it is not usual.
Mayor Koch asked if this assists when our data is evaluated, Ms.
Perkins said that this prevents us from excluding more students. Mayor Koch said that the vast majority of
Quincy Public Schools students are doing the right thing every day.
|