Akron schools face disparities in student discipline process

Educator grievance filings focus mainly on black students.

Black students make up the vast majority of grievances over discipline filed by mostly white Akron educators.

This school year, Akron Public Schools teachers and counselors have filed 22 grievances over the way the district has handled disciplinary action for students they say committed verbal or physical assault against them.

Of the 23 students involved in the grievances, 21 of them — 91 percent — were black, while two were white.

In contrast, black students make up 46 percent of the district’s student population; 34 percent of students are white.

Of the 21 teachers and counselors who filed grievances, all are white except one, who is Latina.

About 87 percent of the district’s educators are white.

“The teachers are the ones who drive this process,” district spokesman Mark Williamson said. “It starts with the way they look at these kids, and then they send it over to the hearing officer.”

Williamson said despite the fact that “the numbers look lopsided,” the district is always trying to add diversity by recruiting in minority publications, going to job fairs and more.

A dispute over student discipline and contract wording between the Akron Board of Education and teachers union heated up this week when hundreds of teachers protested before the regular board meeting about what they say is an increase in classroom assaults with improper disciplinary action taken by the administration.

“We absolutely disagree that this has anything to do with the racial element. We’re talking about behavior, about assaults on teachers,” said Akron Education Association President Pat Shipe, who questioned why the administration would share student data on race if it isn’t an issue educators raised in their grievances.

In continuing their education to renew their licenses, some teachers elect to take cultural competency classes to understand better the lives many of their at-risk students live, Shipe said.

Since 2014, the district has been providing cultural competency training to all new hires and existing staff on days the students have off.

Shipe takes issue with focusing on the 2 percent of students whose bad behavior has already cost others the opportunity to learn. “Many in the (other) 98 percent are from single-parent or low-income households. And again, we’re going to celebrate the vast majority of students who come to school to learn and are having their education stolen from them for all the hours teachers spend dealing with these egregious behaviors. We’re not talking about everyday behaviors.”

The issue of discipline and race is one the district — and schools nationwide — has been facing for years.

The U.S. Department of Education’s office for civil rights found in 2014 that black students are three times more likely than their white peers to be suspended and expelled from school.

That leads to fewer black students in school and more involved in trouble, feeding into a cycle known as the “school to prison pipeline.”

“Suspending them isn’t solving the problem. It’s contributing to it and making it worse,” said Raymond Greene Jr., the founder of the Northeast Ohio branch of My Brother’s Keeper, an initiative launched by former President Barack Obama to address opportunity gaps faced by African-American males.

The district has tried to cut back on suspension rates over the past few years to alleviate that problem, and to keep more kids in school in general. However, as assaults on teachers continue, that has only led to more contention between the administration that dictates discipline and the teachers union.

“I have all the empathy in the world for teachers ... but I also believe you know what you signed up for,” Greene said. “If these kids are scaring you, that is a problem.”

Misbehavior or bias

So far this school year, 114 assaults have been reported. The racial makeup of the assaults is similar to those in the grievances — 83 percent of students disciplined are black, while 17 percent are white.

Of the 114 students referred to the Board of Education for discipline, a hearing officer found that 14 did not rise to the level of a verbal or physical assault. Of the 14 cases, 11 were black, one white and two biracial.

Superintendent David James said the district has projected the number of assaults to occur by the end of the year, and the numbers appear to be trending upward.

But James doesn’t think the numbers tell the whole story.

“I think we’re seeing an increase in things that aren’t really assaults . ... We might have to look at some offerings for staff to help in classroom management,” James said.

Joshua Grundy, 19, sees both sides of the issue.

Grundy leads a youth mentoring program in Akron called Mendia. He currently is working on getting his GED because he dropped out of Akron Public Schools when he was 16. He said he was disciplined frequently in school, having to move to at least two elementary schools before being placed in Akron Alternative Academy for middle school.

Grundy said he had a lot of anger stemming from issues at home, which led to him acting out in school — skipping homework and class, getting into fights with kids and talking back to teachers, which eventually lead to a case of verbal assault that got him kicked out of school.

“My anger at home, it was just brought into the school, and I knew there were certain things I could get away with,” Grundy said.

Grundy said it’s a reality that a lot of African-American males face, as many don’t have father figures or other positive black mentors.

But sometimes, their time in the classroom is no more encouraging. Grundy said he thinks some white teachers assume on first impression that their African-American students will act out in class, leading them to treat black and white students with different expectations from the start.

“I feel like it’s kind of expected out of us . ... Then the teacher will spend more time with the kid who she thinks is gonna do good. It’s only gonna push a student back as far as self-esteem goes,” Grundy said. “Since the black males in this society are already labeled, once they walk in some place where they’re new ... they’re already labeled before they get to that direction they want to go.”

Students with disabilities, who also are disproportionately disciplined, can present even more challenges.

Nine of the 22 grievances filed over discipline involve a student with disabilities, three of which are considered to have severe disabilities.

James said the district has to follow different protocol when disciplining students with disabilities.

“You have to look and see, was the behavior a manifestation of a kid’s special needs?” James said. “You have to look at each one of these cases separately.”

The U.S. Department of Education found that more than 1 out of 4 boys of color with disabilities are suspended at least once in their scholastic career.

Solutions

Greene from My Brother’s Keeper said teachers establishing relationships with students and letting kids know they care is the key to reducing discipline and misbehavior. But there is room for improvement from all parties.

“The community needs to be more involved in the school system, and teachers need to be more involved in the community,” Greene said. “This is everybody’s problem.”

A new committee that the board of education is forming plans to take a look at all the issues at hand — how to manage misbehavior in the classroom, how to discipline students who do misbehave and how to handle teachers’ grievances.

Board of education member Tim Miller is chairing the organization of the committee and hopes to have it formed by April. Miller said he wants it to be a community effort, involving people from juvenile justice, the faith community, the city, the union and others.

He said looking closer at the issues of inequity will “certainly be a part of it.”

“One thing this is not going to be is administration bashing teachers or teachers bashing administration,” Miller said. “Hopefully we do find something we can constructively work on and help these students that need help.” Age 73, of Miamisburg, passed away Feb. 23, 2018. Funeral Service March 1, 1:30 p.m., Newcomer South Chapel, Kettering, OH.

Age 90, of Springfield, passed away Feb. 17, 2018. Service Feb. 28, 1 p.m. at Dayton National Cemetery. Glickler F.H.

Age 98, of Kettering, passed away Thursday, February 22nd, 2018 in Miamisburg at Elmcroft of Washington Township. She was born April 22nd, 1919 to Rose Stettler (Koonan) and Grover Stettler.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband Carroll "Larry" Barnard. Lula is survived by her daughters Linda (Ken) and Judy; four grandchildren John, Kim, Matthew (Keri), and Amanda (Bill) and four great-granddaughters Kelsey, Kylie, Kacey and Emilee.

To help the family celebrate her life, you are invited to share during her Life Celebration Graveside Services held Monday, February 26th, 2018 at 12:00 pm at Bellbrook Cemetery 3939 Upper Bellbrook Rd. Bellbrook, OH 45305,

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Hospice of Dayton, 324 Wilmington Ave, Dayton, Ohio 45420. You are welcome to send a condolence or flowers, light a candle and share a story or picture about Lula at

www.ConnerAndKoch.com Age 78 of Englewood, was welcomed into Heaven on Friday,

February 23, 2018. He was born on December 18, 1939 in

Flint, Michigan. Bob was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He retired as a sales representative from the

Lipton Tea Company with over

33 years of service. Bob was an active member of Englewood

United Methodist Church. He was also involved for many years with the Northmont Optimist Club, Dayton Food Trade, Englewood Masonic Lodge #743 and American Legion Post #707. Bob was a big help to Santa Claus in the area for over 25 years. Community and personal connection was the most important thing to Bob. He is survived by his wife of 53 years: Judy (Whetstone), daughters: Diane McCarroll, Cyndi (Stuart) Hunter, granddaughters: Molly McCarroll, Shelby and Cassidy Hunter, grandson: Benjamin McCarroll, sister-in-law: Linda Bearbower of MI, brotherin-law and sister-in-law: Bill and Evelyn Whetstone of MI, nieces, nephews, relatives, friends and special pet: Annabelle. He was preceded in death by his parents: Dorwin and Caryl (Miller) Bearbower, daughter: Lisa Bearbower and brother: Dan Bearbower. A Celebration of Bob’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 27, 2018 at Englewood United Methodist Church (107 N. Walnut St., Englewood) with Rev. Kim Armentrout officiating. Interment will follow the service at Arlington Cemetery in Brookville. The family will receive friends on Monday, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Kindred Funeral Home (400 Union Blvd., Englewood). In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Englewood United Methodist Church. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.KindredFuneralHome.com Age 61 of Beavercreek, formerly of Bradford departed this life to her eternal rest in God on February 17, 2018. She was born on March 21, 1956 to the (late) James R. and Elizabeth L. “Betty” (Scott) Beckley. Barbara was a graduate of Bradford High School, Class of 1974 and a graduate of Bowling Green State University and Wright State University. She is preceded in death by her parents, brother James “Paul” Beckley and sister Karen Stafford. Barbara is survived by a brother and sister-inlaw Mark and Ronda Beckley of Bradford, a nephew Jake and Christina Beckley of Greenville, nieces Shannon Beckley of Minster and Ashley and Bradley Perkins of Virginia Beach, VA, two great-nephews Evan and Ethan Beckley and two greatnieces Aubrielle and Everleigh Perkins. She enjoyed being a teacher and spending time with her family and friends. She was deeply loved and will be missed. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am. Saturday March 3, 2018 at Mt. Zion Church 428 Shepherd Rd. Xenia, Ohio 45385. The family will receive friends from 10 am Saturday until time of service. Burial will be at a later time. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the church in her name to help with the funeral and other expenses. Condolences may be left at

www.NewcomerDayton.com 83, departed this world on February 21. Alvin is preceded in death by his first wife Mary Bellert (Leugers), sisters: Frieda Beaver and Wilma Wynk, and parents Joe and Matilda Bellert. He is survived by his second wife Alice Weitz, his six children: Doug, Darrin, Duane, Dale and Darrell Bellert and Ann Pulaski, their spouses, 16 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, his brother Richard Bellert and stepchildren: Joe, Nick, Sam and Andy Weitz and Teresa Haworth. Friends may call at the Tobias Funeral Home, 3970 Dayton-Xenia Rd. on Tuesday, February 27, 2018 from 4-7 PM; prayers will be offered at the funeral home on Wednesday, February 28, 2018 at 10 AM. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at St. Luke Catholic Church, 1440 N. Fairfield Rd. at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, February 28 with Fr. Terry Schneider, Celebrant. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery following the Mass. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made at: https://www.unbound.org/OurImp act/TargetDonations