Junior high and high school discipline reports show mixed trends; MTSS work credited for some improvements

Pleasant Valley school administrators presented annual attendance, discipline and behavior summaries for the junior high and the high school and the board accepted both reports.

Colin Wicken, eighth‑grade dean and athletic director at the junior high, said the building served about 938 students and recorded 518 referrals—an increase of about 26.7 percent over the prior year. He told the board that the increase reflects clearer tier‑1 behavior expectations and better staff reporting rather than only poorer conduct. "Our MTSS team worked extensively… defining behavior, creating classroom expectations… 'be safe, be respectful, be responsible,'" Wicken said, noting that the clearer flowchart for staff produced more referrals but also produced improved results on the school's conditions for learning survey.

Wicken highlighted decreases in inappropriate use of technology (a 24.5 percent drop) and said that in‑school suspension use had increased as the school balanced academic continuity with discipline. He also reported a large increase in recorded tardies and asked staff to further analyze causes.

At the high school, administrators reported about 1,782 students and 3,376 total referrals, a drop of roughly 15.7 percent from the prior year. High school leaders said 26 students had 30 or more referrals; those students accounted for roughly one‑third of total referrals. Attendance‑related referrals remained the largest single category (about 73 percent of attendance referrals), but the school saw decreased suspensions and a 58 percent decline in inappropriate technology incidents after consistent enforcement and education measures.

Board action: the board approved the attendance and discipline reports for both buildings and commended staff for MTSS work and interdepartmental coordination to reduce chronic absenteeism and inappropriate device use.