School records show far too many San Diego students are getting suspended and expelled at local campuses. District officials hope a $175,000 plan will curb the problem. KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis has the details.
In almost every San Diego school hangs a banner with a credo like Respect, Honesty, and Discipline. These catch words are often linked to a school's so-called character-building plan.
But these efforts are having limited success. District records show student suspensions, expulsions and referrals are becoming a serious issue.
Superintendent Terry Grier
says too many schools have different sets of programs, rules and expectations.
Grier:
You’ve got all these intervention programs that tell me, 'I've got to walk on the right side of the hallway, and if I say this I get in trouble.’ And this goes on at one school. Then you have a different program at another school. So what happens is our kids are terribly confused because of inconsistent expectations of the adults.
The district plans to pay outside consultants $175,000 to craft a Positive Behavior Intervention Program. Groups of educators would get training on how to create supportive learning enviornments. They would also learn how to better connect with problem students.
But critics say the district is wasting money on consultants. They say the money should go towards school counselors.
Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.
