The Santa Paula Unified School District board has reviewed a new, progressive discipline chart for Santa Paula High School. The report was presented to the trustees by Frieda Friend at a recent board meeting.
The board was told that the suspension and expulsion process in the State has changed after the passage of recent legislation. The Santa Paula Unified School District has adopted revised Board Policies regarding suspension which address the need to utilize alternative means of correction, such as Restorative Justice, Positive Behavior Supports with tier interventions or other forms of correction prior to out of school suspension. The new regulations require that for non-violent offenses, the district attempt several alternatives prior to suspending a student from school. In order to comply with these regulations,
Santa Paula High School has developed a Progressive Discipline Chart, which utilizes school-based interventions prior to suspending a student. This discipline chart must be made available to parents and students prior to the beginning of the 2014-15 school year to inform them of the consequences of disciplinary infractions.
On the proposed Progressive Discipline Chart, some violations can result in out of school suspension at the first offense since these offenses constitute a threat to the safety of others. Other violations would require for the administrators to attempt school based interventions such as Restorative Justice practices, school based counseling, and Positive Behavior Supports for first and second offenses and prior to out of school suspension. Three high school administrators worked with the Executive Director of Student Services to revise this chart.
The board was told that, although the new discipline model will require more administrative time, the benefits include higher student attendance and increased learning opportunities.
In another matter the SPUSD board was told that the district has accepted the bid from a County firm to repave the parking lots at Glen City and Blanchard Schools.
B.C. Rincon Construction Company out of Somis won with a low bid of $168,032. Both parking lots have been deteriorating for some time with tree roots lifting up the pavement in places. The project completion date is August 1.
