LEWISTON — The School Committee took a step this week toward changing the district’s policies on disciplinary actions.
In a 6-3 vote Monday night, the committee adopted a request to end expulsions in elementary schools.
The proposal, presented by member Kiernan Majerus-Collins, was framed as a way to create equity among students.
Majerus-Collins noted that the ACLU of Maine had issued a report several years ago showing that Lewiston Public Schools expelled children of color at a higher rate than other children.
“This is an opportunity for this committee to demonstrate its commitment to equity,” he said.
He proposed a limit of 10-day suspensions for behavioral issues that were not deemed to be ongoing threats to health or safety.
“Our students are more than the worst thing they’ve ever done,” he said. “One who is a real and serious threat on a given day is not necessarily a real and serious threat every day.”
He said a 10-day suspension “is not an insignificant punishment,” especially for children with difficult home lives.
Superintendent Jake Langlais said the policy change would not have much effect because no current elementary school principal had brought a child before the committee for a disciplinary hearing.
Principals can issue suspensions of up to 10 days, according to state law. If more serious action is needed, the child must go before the school board which decides whether to expel or extend the suspension.
Member Alicia Rea, the City Council representative to the committee, said expulsion hearings were the “worst experience to sit through with students and parents.”
She noted that the “school to prison pipeline” often begins with extreme discipline at the elementary school level.
“In order for Lewiston Public Schools to be an equitable place for learning, this is an important first step,” Rea said.
Langlais said he was not advocating for or against this proposal, but he was in favor of moving away from harsh discipline for minor acts.
“Our goal is to have kids in school,” Langlais said. “This (change) would give us a way to discern the difference between using discipline because someone was naughty and whether they are a long-term threat.”
He said the policy change would “set the tone for what else we might do in terms of restorative justice. We can start to dig into how this community wants to deal with these concerns.”
Restorative justice focuses on rehabilitation through reconciliation with victims and the community at large.
Chairwoman Megan Parks said she supported the change as a first step.
“I think students deserve better than what we have now,” she said. She said a committee retreat would be a good way to “dig into” related policies.
Members Tanya Whitlow, Elgin Physic and Vice Chairman Bruce Damon voted against the motion.
Whitlow and Physic said they did not want to take away principals’ power to ask for expulsions.
“If we are saying they have to show an ongoing threat, that’s scary,” Whitlow said. “I’m not sure why we wouldn’t take them out (of school) immediately instead of waiting for an ongoing threat.”
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