School Suspensions Drop By a Third

The number of student suspensions in Ledyard schools last year dropped by almost a full third from the previous year, from 202 suspensions in 2009-10 to 135 in 2010-11, schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Graner reported to the Board of Education.

While certainly a positive development, Graner and school board members were careful not to read too much into the data.

For example, were Ledyard students that much better-behaved, or were teachers and administrators simply slower to throw the book at them in 2010-11? 

The question provided grist for an interesting discussion at the board’s regular meeting Wednesday.

At the high school last year there were 96 student suspensions, compared to 144 in 2009-10. At the middle school there were 27 suspensions, compared to 49 the previous year.

Juliet W. Long School had 10 suspensions, up from three the previous year, and Gallup Hill School had two suspensions, down from six in 2009-10. There were no suspensions reported at Ledyard Center School or Gales Ferry School.

For the district, there were 135 suspensions in 2010-11, down from 202 the previous year

“This is one indication of the safe and orderly schools that we have,” Graner said. The goal is always safe and orderly schools, he said, adding that the district’s principals have never been asked to curb suspensions or “go easy” on students.

But the goal is also intervention, especially early intervention, in the case of at-risk students.

“When a student makes a grammatical mistake, we teach him,” Graner observed. “When he makes a behavioral mistake, we punish him.”

Member Gordon Strickland noted suspensions for truancy.

“When a student is truant enough to be labeled a truant, what do we do? We suspend him,” he said. “But what are we doing to reach out to that student to bring him back in?”

Offenses that could warrant suspension range from teasing to assault and battery. School Board Chairwoman Sharon Hightower said the policy on behavior and discipline is detailed in a 14-page document, “although some professional judgment comes to bear,” she said.

At the high school, for example, there were five suspensions last year for insubordination and disrespect, down from 29 the previous year. “About a fifth of the suspensions last year were for skipping class,” Graner said.

One trend is clear. As recommended by the state Board of Education, out-of-school suspensions are declining. Last year at the high school there were only 20 out-of-school suspensions, compared to 75 in-school suspensions. 

“This is consistent with the state department of education, which is discouraging out-of-school suspensions,” Graner said.