DPS suspensions drop significantly during first semester

January 24, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Dr. Carl Harris, Associate Superintendent Instructional Services, 560-3716 Nancy Hester, Assistant Superintendent Support Services, 560-2501 DPS suspensions drop significantly during first semester DURHAM— The total number of short-term suspensions in Durham Public Schools for the current school year plunged by nearly half over last year (49 percent). There were 2,157 suspensions during the first semester of the 2004-05 school year, down from 4,192 during the same period last year. Concerted efforts of teachers and principals around the issue of suspensions, along with improved behavior among students and support from parents, have led to the dramatic decrease in the number of students being suspended from Durham Public Schools. According to reports from DPS Support Services, there were 1,488 students suspended for the short term (10 or fewer school days) between July and December 2004. That number is down by more than one third (36 percent) of the 2,337 students suspended during the same months in 2003. Nearly three-fourths of all students suspended were only suspended one time, leading educators to believe that one suspension was effective in changing behavior in most students. The remaining fourth were suspended at least twice. Dedication and attention on behalf of teachers, principals, students and parents have attributed to the sharp decline. Lowe’s Grove Middle School, for example, experienced an 87 percent drop in short-term suspensions (443, down to 58). Under Principal Marsha Person’s leadership, teachers met for two days before the beginning of school to brainstorm and agreed upon such innovative ideas as changing the school’s master schedule to reduce the number of times students were in hallways in a given day from 12 to six and ensuring that students are now accompanied by a teacher or other staff member when in the hallway. The school also incorporated a literacy/character education unit on respect and behavior and held a “retreat” at Lake Crabtree for all new sixth-grade students to clearly present the school rules and expectations for behavior. The number of short-term suspensions at Githens Middle School fell by three-fourths between first semester last year and this year, from 699 to 172. According to Principal Emmett Tilley, the main factor is setting high expectations and ensuring that students understand them. In addition, the school implemented the Positive Behavior Support system, which helps train teachers and staff members in recognizing and diffusing various situations. A greater emphasis also has been put on the utilization of in-school suspension. In addition, DPS principals and assistant principals are now directly responsible for completing and approving final suspension reports. Dr. Carl Harris, Associate Superintendent of Instructional Services, and Superintendent Ann T. Denlinger are meeting monthly with principals and assistant principals to review suspension data. “The sharp decrease in the number of suspensions in Durham Public Schools is a wonderful indicator of what our teachers, principals and parents are doing to ensure that students remain in school and learning,” said Dr. Regina George-Bowden, DPS Board of Education Vice-Chairwoman. “We have much more work to do, but this is a highly encouraging beginning.” “We are extremely pleased with these results. Teachers and principals continue to discover innovative methods for supporting students so that they will exhibit the appropriate behavior necessary to stay in school,” said Superintendent Denlinger. “This is a true testament to the commitment of our staff members – along with the community at large – to meet the needs of our students as they strive to achieve at their highest possible potential.” Long-term suspensions (more than 10 school days) dipped slightly, from 39 students last year to 36 this year. Of the 36, 21 students have already returned to their assigned school. The remaining 15 were offered an alternative school option, but have not chosen to accept it at this time. If they had done so, there would have been no students suspended for the remainder of this school year. ###