Board Unanimously Approves Item H-6, Update On Findings Regarding Student Suspension, Success Centers, And Related School Data And Safety Measures.
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF DR. STEVE GALLON III
October 21, 2022
At the October 19, 2022 School Board Meeting, the Board unanimously approved Board Agenda Item H-6, Update on Findings Regarding Student Suspension, Success Centers, and Related School Data and Safety Measures, proffered by Vice Chair Dr. Steve Gallon III.
The School Board is committed to ensuring a safe learning environment for its students, staff, and stakeholders. In doing so, it initiates and adopts several policies, action items and procedures that seek to drive and govern effective, evidence-based practices for school leaders, teachers, and staff. In fact, School Board Policy 5500- Student Conduct and Discipline, establishes guidelines, procedures, and corrective strategies to be employed in promoting and maintaining appropriate student behavior. In addition, the School Board of Miami-Dade County remains committed to promoting and maintaining a high level of accountability, integrity, and transparency in the operation of the school district and in matters governing school safety, security, and student discipline.
At the School Board Meeting of February 15, 2017, the School Board unanimously approved School Board Agenda Item H-7 (Revised), Student Behavior: Out of School Suspensions and Student Success Centers. The intent of Item H-7 was to be proactive in ensuring the effectiveness and alignment of Student Success Centers with respect to educational/student impact, policy and contractual alignment, stakeholder engagement, resource allocation, and improvement of implementation for the 2017-2018 school year.
Recently, external reviewers and public entities charged with reviewing school safety issues and protocols statewide have requested M-DCPS staff to examine and review its school safety and discipline systems, including its SESIR reporting processes, outdoor suspension protocols, and its use of Student Success Centers. Despite M-DCPS staff’s avowed commitment to ensuring compliance and effective implementation of State and Board Policy requirements, a comprehensive report to the School Board is critically important as the School Board bears ultimate responsibility for compliance and accountability.
This item directs the Superintendent to ensure immediate action is taken to comply with the Florida Department of Education’s (FDOE) School Environmental Safety Incident Reporting (SESIR) system guidelines and procedures, implement corrective strategies governing student discipline, including but not limited to, the utilization and effectiveness of student suspensions and Student Success Centers, and to provide an update at the Personnel, Student, School & Community Support Committee Meeting of November 9, 2022.
“I remain grateful for the unanimous support of my colleagues which reflects an unwavering commitment to ensuring full compliance with all laws, statutes, and policies regarding the reporting of accurate disciplinary data, and most important, the provision of quality programs for students.”
To read the full item, click here:
https://pdfs.dadeschools.net/Bdarch/2022/bd101922/agenda/h6rev.pdf
