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The Suffolk School Board observed an Administrative Services report that presented new school data, including school safety goals for the 2024-25 school year.

During the board meeting on Thursday, Aug. 15, at Kings Fork Middle School, SPS Chief of Administrative Services Dr. Rodney J. Brown gave a detailed report that included safety initiatives, student discipline data, and student prevention/intervention initiatives.

2024-25 Safety Initiatives

Along with school visitors continuing to use the building entrance buzzer, exits and entry procedures will include IDs being run through the Raptor Visitor Management System as well as staff entering through designated entrances with weapon detectors. Recess and outdoor activities will see students exiting the building adjusted accordingly as well as multiple security checks implemented. Building security measures will include ZeroEyes Firearm Detection Software, the Raptor Alert App, and random SSO checks and a checkoff sheet for each check. Likewise, critical incident response will be revised with Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) protocols being utilized. 

“As we approach the new school year, ensuring safety, a safe environment, and well-being of our students, staff and families remain a top priority,” Brown said during the presentation. “We are committed to implementing safety initiatives to provide a safe learning environment for everyone.”

Referral and Discipline Data

Data also showcased how division discipline referrals decreased by a six year comparison. Compared to a total of 10,078 written referrals in 2017-18, the 2023-24 school year saw a decrease to 5,804 total written referrals, the lowest in the six year timeline. On discipline by school, King’s Fork High School saw the highest number of referrals for the 2023-24 school with a total of 1,148. Likewise, for the location of division incidents for that year, classrooms ranked at the top with 3,215 total referrals. 

On 2023-24 discipline data by school level, middle schools ranked at the top with 2,181 referrals, a percentage of 37.6. Likewise, the top ten referrals for that year included “Push, Shove, Strike – No Injury,” “Learning interference-inside classroom,” “Defiance-Staff Request or Question,” “Behavior-Reckless to Self or Others” and “Fighting-No Injury.”

2024-25 Prevention and Interventions

Brown also detailed school-level prevention and intervention goals for the upcoming school year. Each level will see restorative practices with restorative circles, chats, conflict mediation, anti-bullying campaigns, and the inclusion of a Behavioral Specialist, who will provide mentoring groups and individual student support. Middle and high school students will also see the addition of a new FOCUS Center that incorporates accountability projects and school-based check-ins.

“We send students there that make bad choices, instead of sending them home, they go to the FOCUS Center. And they go there, they complete accountability projects. They talk about the things that they have done and why they did and what was their part and whatever the offense was. But what I really like about the FOCUS Center, the staff, when they don’t have students, they go to the schools and visit…That’s with the school based check-ins,” Brown said. “So they don’t just bring the kids there and leave them, they go to the schools and they have conversations. ‘How are things going?’ ‘Have we learned anything?’ ‘Are you making good decisions?’ So we are really excited about that program.”