by Madison White Franks
KILMARNOCK—At the September 12 school board meeting, superintendent Steve Parker presented the Lancaster schools’ discipline data for the 2016-17 school year, excluding bus referrals.
He indicated that out of the student population of 1,223, 455 students have received one or more referrals and out of these students, they have received a total of 1,755 referrals.
Black students, 57% of the population, received 75% of referrals; white students, 39% of the population, received 22% of referrals; and other race students, 4% of the population, received 2% of referrals.
Of the students with 10 or more referrals, 83% were black, 15% were white, and 2% were other races.
At Lancaster Primary School, 83 students out of 415 received 296 referrals. 72% of students referred were black, 23% white and 5% another race.
Parker indicated that 70% of the referrals were for the “5 Ds,” which is defiance, disrespect, classroom disruption, campus disruption, or obscene language or gestures at all schools.
At Lancaster Middle School, 202 students out of 432 received 961 referrals. 67% of students referred were black, 30% white and 3% another race.
At Lancaster High School, 170 students out of 376 received 498 referrals. 68% of students referred were black, 28% white and 4% another race.
Parker indicated that going forward, the school division will continue to implement and focus on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support programs at each school, begin training on restorative practices while bringing parents into the conversation in a deliberate manner, continue to implement behavior support plans and continue to build partnerships with support agencies to provide more and earlier intervention services.
