Student council updates activities; district reports discipline data and new SmartPass system

Kyle Levansky, student council speaker, updated the High Point Regional High School Board on student activities on Oct. 29, noting club events, Red Ribbon Week programming and recognition of student awardees and athletes.

"Whether they raise $5 or $50,000 that's not really the point," Levansky said, urging the board to value community-building at events. He also described recent theater and marching-band trips and said senior recognitions and club activities have had strong turnout.

Following the student report, a district staff member presented a summary of disciplinary data from the 2023–24 school year and described SmartPass, the district's new digital hall-pass system. The staff member said the district recorded, in the categories presented, 30 confirmed substance-use incidents, 11 instances listed as discussion, zero distributions and two drug-screen refusals during the 23–24 year and that suspension lengths vary by offense severity, typically three to five days and up to about 10 days in more serious cases. The presenter described SmartPass as a Chromebook-based digital pass that lets office staff and roaming staff see who should be in the halls and reduces crowding at restroom lines.

The presentation reiterated that students who trigger disciplinary processes are expected to meet with a drug-evaluation counselor and follow recommended counseling; building staff counselors also follow up locally. Board members asked clarifying questions about data reporting and the district's ability to limit students leaving classes in groups; the presentation noted the district has recently added counseling staff and that MTSS and classroom walkthroughs continue as part of school improvement efforts.

The board did not take further action on the presentation; the chair closed the presentation period and moved to action items.