Spokane: 50% increase in suspensions/expulsions from last year

Oct 30, 2017, Spokane (WA) Spokesman Review: Spike in Spokane schools discipline linked to turbulent year, school officials say http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/oct/30/spike-in-spokane-schools-discipline-could-be-linke/ So far this year, suspensions and expulsions in Spokane schools have increased by 48 percent, according to data collected by the school district. As of Thursday, there were 775 incidents of students being excluded from Spokane Public Schools. That’s a marked increase from the same point last year, when there were 524 incidents. Fred Schrumph, the district’s director of restorative practices, believes the increase is partially due to the Freeman High School shooting in September and the Las Vegas shooting on October 1. “We do feel like there has been an increase in incidents where kids are making threats but that has been consistent across the state for some reason,” Sterk said.... “This got my attention,” Schrumph said Tuesday of the increase. “Because it’s going in the wrong direction … with all the work we’re doing.” … One concern raised by teachers and other school staff after the district wide adoption of restorative discipline practices was that not suspending and expelling students could lead to dangerous or disruptive school environments. Those concerns were aired in June during a sometimes-impassioned school board meeting, where teachers shared their experiences of being verbally or physically attacked in class. … Threats to staff accounted for 25 of the total suspensions and expulsions. The disproportionate discipline of minorities, special education students and low income students remains an area of concern. …