Coronado Middle School has the highest number of suspensions in the city’s Unified School District, on par with the statewide average.
That number more than doubled in the last five years with 3.4% of students suspended at least one day in the 2023-2024 school year compared to a 3.2% statewide average.
Looking at the district as a whole, Niamh Foley, director of student services, told the board that students in the seventh and eighth grades have the highest number of suspensions, and male students are three times as likely to be suspended than female students.
At the March 13 school board meeting, Foley said a district board policy, last updated May 16, 2024, reinforces the need for a positive school climate and clear expectations to minimize disciplinary measures that exclude students from instruction.
“Students don’t come to school only because of their classes,” said Foley. “Students come to school for myriad reasons. In many cases, it’s the relationship with adults on that campus. It might be a sport, it might be an activity or a club that they’re passionate about, but that connectedness is something that’s really important for us, to foster that, to ensure that positive school climate.”
A flowchart for “Supporting Student Behavior” at the middle school outlines the general procedure to addressing minor and major student behavioral problems.
“Our teachers are the ones that are intervening right as it’s happening in their classroom,” said Foley. “They are doing these level one interventions … correcting and redirecting right on the spot.”
In the past five years, CUSD has had one expulsion, said Foley.
According to Foley, CUSD considers expulsions as “The Big ‘5’” which includes: (1) possessing, selling, or furnishing a firearm; (2) brandishing a knife at another person; (3) unlawfully selling a controlled substance; (4) Committing or attempting to commit a sexual assault or committing a sexual battery; (5) possession of an explosive.
“A student may not be disciplined for conduct that occurs off school property and outside the school day unless the conduct seriously endangers the safety of students or staff and is related to a school activity,” said Foley.
In other matters
- The board approved amendments to the employment contracts of Superintendent Karl Mueller and Deputy Superintendent Donnie Salamanca for respective 4% salary increases making Salamanca’s salary $227,337 and Mueller’s salary $263, 979 effective Jan 1, 2025.
- The board announced plans for a budget study committee meeting on April 23.
- CUSD is accepting applications for its Facilities Advisory (7-11) Committee via this form.
- The board approved instructional materials for an optional course on ethnic literature for juniors at Coronado High School.
- The district will review its homework policies and also consider an amendment to its open campus policy to include 9th-grade students.
The next regular board meeting is set for 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 17 at the district office.
