The Gloucester School Board discussed a variety of topics at its monthly meeting, held Tuesday night in the T.C. Walker Education Center auditorium, one of which was student discipline.
School board member Carlton Drew began the discipline discussion by referencing the number of students that have been suspended this school year due to behavioral issues.
“Whatever we’re doing, it ain’t working,” said Drew. “And I think we need to look at some of these incidences, especially when kids are putting their hands on somebody inappropriately.”
Dr. Walter Clemons, division superintendent, contextualized the suspension report numbers for the board.
“What those numbers actually suggest is that one, we have behaviors in schools that result in consequences,” said Clemons. “What would be alarming, even greater, would be if you didn’t have consequences that were given to inappropriate behaviors. And so where I think may be some of the disconnect may be is that schools are going to have infractions.
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