Urbana Middle School Deans Going Too

Recently there has been data on racial disparity in punishment in our local schools that has backed up other studies and data showing that even for the same offenses, some minority students are punished more often and more harshly. More at the recent Cheat Sheet post: Education Racial Disparity Data. Urbana had recently moved to change their discipline system from a dean style system to a restorative practices system (see Urbana Deans Update post here). Well there's also movement at the middle school towards the same, and the push back isn't just local. From today's News-Gazette:

Urbana school board OKs plan to eliminate deans at middle school, too
Nearly two months removed from a controversial roll-out that shocked many parents, teachers and community members, the Urbana school board approved another sweeping discipline change for the district Tuesday, this time at the middle-school level.

Similar to a plan OK'd May 15 that erased dean positions at Urbana High School, board members on Tuesday approved a proposal that would also eliminate the middle school's dean positions while adding an assistant principal, three student-engagement advocates, two clinical professionals and a social worker.

The dean positions are being eliminated in an attempt to address what are seen as racial disparities in outcomes resulting from the schools' disciplinary systems.

Joseph Wiemelt, who received board approval Tuesday as the new Urbana Middle School principal, told board members the plan creates a system that is more proactive toward student behavior than what was previously in place.

"The proposal before you allows more trained and licensed staff to support teachers in the classroom," he said. This is "a model that better addresses student behaviors and needs while ensuring there are consequences when needed."

More details, including another newly approved hire, at the full article here. The push back at the high school level appears to be happening nationally as well. The commission formed to deal with school safety after the school shooting in Florida isn't addressing guns, but it is looking at possibly rescinding Obama era reform efforts on racial disparity in discipline. From the New York Times yesterday:

The commission’s members include Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. It is charged with bringing “meaningful and actionable recommendations to keep students safe at school.”

Among other areas, the commission is slated to examine ratings systems for video games, the consumption of “violent entertainment” and the effects of news media coverage of mass shootings. The group is also charged with considering whether to repeal a package of Obama-era school discipline policies targeted at addressing disciplinary policies that disproportionately affect minority students. The commission is also looking to fund and bolster mental health and school infrastructure resources.

More at the full article here.