A request for information about discipline at Hoover School

As I described here, I’m concerned that our local elementary school has ratcheted up its focus on behavior and discipline this year, to the point where it’s creating a negative atmosphere at the school and needlessly stressing out the kids. When I asked the principal just how much the discipline numbers have gone up from last year, she told me that I would need to make a public records request to get that information. In the ensuing series of email exchanges I had with the principal and district administrators, it became obvious that the district was not interested in hearing what parents might have to say about how the disciplinary system is affecting the kids. So I figured it was time to go ahead and get the numerical information – even though, as the assistant superintendent had reminded me, I would have to pay the cost of gathering the data.

So, in place of the relatively simple question I had asked the principal, I drafted a more detailed information request. I asked about four types of discipline: behavior reports sent home to parents, in-school suspensions (technically called “in-school restrictions”), out-of-school suspensions, and expulsions. For each type of discipline, I asked for this year’s numbers up until Winter Break, and last year’s for that same period, as well as last year’s year-end total. I also asked for copies of the paperwork that accompanies a behavior report.

To be continued.

To read the full request, click on the “Read More” link.

Dear Superintendent Murley:

I’m writing to follow up on my email questions about how frequently certain disciplinary measures have been used at Hoover Elementary School both this year and last year. As I explained in my earlier emails, I’m concerned that Hoover has intensified its focus on behavior and discipline to the point where it is creating a negative atmosphere at the school and leading the students to view the adults at the school (particularly the non-classroom-teachers) as their adversaries. I would just like to get a sense of how much the use of serious disciplinary measures has changed from the last academic year to this one.

I thought I could simply ask for the basic numbers in an email to the principal, but the district responded that I could get the information only by making a formal public records request. I’m still a little puzzled by that response, since I’m not asking to look at any records, and I assume that individual disciplinary records are confidential anyway. All I’m asking for is information. I know I can’t expect the district to engage in extensive or time-consuming tasks just for my benefit, but I’m guessing that the district already keeps track of disciplinary data. In any event, this letter is to make a more formal, detailed request for information, which you can treat as a records request if necessary.

If you’re unable to answer any of the questions, please just let me know and provide whatever partial answer you can. I’m happy to clarify any of the questions if you need me to. Again, I’m really just asking for the numerical information, and not to inspect any records myself, given the student confidentiality concerns. However, an alternative would be to provide me copies of the relevant records with all confidential information redacted.

A couple of terms to clarify: When I use the phrase “behavior report,” I mean a written communication from the school notifying a student’s parent or guardian that the student has engaged in misconduct or misbehavior. When I use the phrase “in-school restriction,” I mean the type of discipline described in Board Policy/Administrative Regulation section IV(A)(11), while I mean “out-of-school suspensions” to refer to the type of discipline described in section IV(A)(12).

If you do treat this as records request, I’d like to take you up on your offer to provide me a cost estimate before you start answering the request. I’d appreciate it if you would give separate estimates for each of the five numbered requests; I can submit them as separate requests if necessary.

Here is the information I am looking for:

1. In-school restrictions

Please state:

(a) The number of in-school restrictions of Hoover students between August 18, 2011 and December 20, 2011 (inclusive)

(b) The number of in-school restrictions of Hoover students between August 19, 2010 and December 20, 2010 (inclusive)

(c) The number of in-school restrictions of Hoover students during the 2010-11 school year

2. Out-of-school suspensions

Please state:

(a) The number of out-of-school suspensions of Hoover students between August 18, 2011 and December 20, 2011 (inclusive)

(b) The number of out-of-school suspensions of Hoover students between August 19, 2010 and December 20, 2010 (inclusive)

(c) The number of out-of-school suspensions of Hoover students during the 2010-11 school year

3. Expulsions

Please state:

(a) The number of expulsions of Hoover students between August 18, 2011 and December 20, 2011 (inclusive)

(b) The number of expulsions of Hoover students between August 19, 2010 and December 20, 2010 (inclusive)

(c) The number of expulsions of Hoover students during the 2010-11 school year

4. Behavior reports

Please state:

(a) The number of behavior reports sent to parents/guardians of Hoover students between August 18, 2011 and December 20, 2011 (inclusive)

(b) The number of behavior reports sent to parents/guardians of Hoover students between August 19, 2010 and December 20, 2010 (inclusive)

(c) The number of behavior reports sent to parents/guardians of Hoover students during the 2010-11 school year

5. Behavior report form. If the school ever used a standard form to send behavior reports to parents/guardians during the 2010-11 or 2011-12 school years, please provide a blank copy of that form.

Thank you,

Within a few days, I modified the request slightly:

I would like to clarify the request in one respect: I would like to make it clear that, by “behavior reports” in Requests 4 and 5, I mean to include the “Follow-Up” materials mentioned by the principal in the “Hoover Headlines” of January 6, 2012.

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