Discipline model sees success at Centennial, principal says
Budget issues also discussed at Crane meeting
Using the restorative justice behavior model has made a difference at Centennial Middle School, its principal told Crane Board members Tuesday evening.
Longtime educator and administrator Helen Coffeen said the traditional use of restorative justice, in which rehabilitation is attained by offender/ victim reconciliation, has been modified for use in schools.
“It helps kids develop empathy and … integrity,” she said during an informational presentation to the board at its meeting Tuesday evening.
Coffeen and Assistant Principal Tamy Durham presented data showing that Level 3 offenses at the school are down significantly after nearly two years of using the alternative discipline method. Level 3 offenses include incidents such as fighting, insubordination, drugs/ alcohol or sexual harassment.
From a high of 224 Level 3s in the second quarter of the 2016-2017 school year, for the same time period in the 2017-2018 year, there have only been 81 incidents. Data for the 17-18 third quarter are not complete yet, Coffeen noted.
The elimination of two positions led to a discussion about federal funding and its maze of stipulations.
Human Resources Director Lupe Lewis explained the district is not eliminating the two positions, a federal
— Helen Coffeen, educator and administrator
programs coordinator and one assessment clerk, because it wants to, but because the federal funding for them has dried up.
“On an annual basis, our federal funds have gone down,” she explained, and more reductions in federal education funding are expected as Congress and President Trump enter budget negotiations.
Lewis said the district has decided to eliminate the two district office-level positions instead of classroom positions which are paid for out of the same federal funding “bucket.”
Board clerk Sarah Claridge noted federal funds come to school districts with myriad stipulations, some of which are “extremely absurd.” For example, districts can only use funds from certain sources only if certain conditions are met, she lamented, continuing that it is a difficult decision to choose which positions to eliminate.
Lewis noted the positions are funded through June 30, in order for the employees to apply for either internal or external positions.
The board did approve creating a literacy and assessment tech position, though that job is tethered to the $4 million Gov. Doug Ducey is offering for his early literacy grant, Crane CFO Dale Ponder said.
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Michael Hoffman noted that the position is a three-year grant, and that when the funding dries up, the position will end as well. Lewis noted five schools received the grant.
The board also approved adopting a Pre-K designation for all Crane elementary schools.
Superintendent Laurie Doering explained the move is a proactive one, so when a campus wishes to start a preschool program, the designation is already in place.
Board President Brenna Paulin recognized several administrators and staff who are set to retire or are resigning for other opportunities, including Salvador Rodriguez, who has been the director of essential student services for a number of years.
Paulin thanked Rodriguez for the “many, many years of service. We really appreciate what you’ve done for our district and for all the lives you’ve touched.”
Doering also noted parent teacher conferences are this week, and students are on early dismissal in order for parents to meet with teachers. All parents are encouraged to attend. The district and all schools will also be closed Monday for the holiday.
“It helps kids develop empathy and … integrity.”