Students tell Gilroy Unified board suspensions are unfair, urge restorative responses

Three students spoke during general public comment at the Nov. 7 Gilroy Unified board meeting, urging the district to address what they described as disproportionately high suspension and expulsion rates and to expand restorative interventions.

Jessica Pineda, a senior at Gilroy High School, told trustees that "data from this district shows that kids of color are 3 times more likely to get suspended or expelled in this district," citing eddata.org and urging the board to adopt restorative approaches instead of punitive removals.

Angel Guerrero, a youth who attends Christopher High and represents Cara’s, said suspension increases have been driven by drug use and violence and recommended restorative justice and community supports to help students identify root causes (abuse, stress, bullying). He urged the board to provide alternatives to exclusionary discipline and to offer jobs or community‑based work as consequences rather than automatically removing students from school.

Ashley Castillo, a Gilroy High student representing at‑risk youth, said the district recorded "627 violence without injury" incidents in 2022–23 on the district website and urged monthly therapeutic check‑ins for students to prevent future suspensions.

Board president Pace and staff did not provide a data rebuttal during the public comment period; the meeting later recorded expulsions acted on in closed session. Student speakers asked the board to ensure restorative practices are not only promoted in training but consistently implemented in schools.