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NAACP: Hillsborough student discipline workshop neglects conversation on suspensions

A two-hour workshop on student discipline didn't include information on the area community leaders say they're most concerned about: student suspensions.

TAMPA, Fla. — A two-hour board workshop on student conduct and discipline in Hillsborough County Public Schools did not fully address for some community leaders one of the biggest discipline concerns impacting student achievement: suspensions. 

"We all know if you keep missing school, you're never gonna get caught up," Hillsborough NAACP president Yvette Lewis said.

Lewis says her office has been monitoring suspensions, particularly among Black and Hispanic students, who historically have been overrepresented in student discipline numbers. 

"This is a tri-fold problem between the parent, the student and the teacher on, 'How do we resolve this?'" she added.

However, she says she's been unable to get an accurate count of student suspensions and the offenses that accompany them to truly begin addressing root causes. 

"I have not, as of right now, today, received actual clarification on where these numbers lie or how they even came about," she said.

10 Investigates also made a request to Hillsborough County Schools. A November request for 2023 suspensions yielded a document with student discipline data. Chief of Communications Tanya Arja later said did not exclusively include student suspensions. 

During last Tuesday's discipline workshop, suspension concerns came up among some school board members.

"I mentioned it, but they redirected my comment," board chair Karen Perez said. "I think today they were just looking at the referrals...I still have an issue with the amount of referrals that Black and Latino students are receiving."

Data presented by Joshua Kristol, general director of climate and culture, showed nearly 59,000 incidents this academic year of punishable behavior like skipping class, insubordination, tardiness and fighting. Seventy-five percent of those referrals were given to Black and Hispanic students. 

That percentage is the same for this time last school year when there were more than 66,000 referrals. 

"Student conduct to me is the most critical part of teaching," said at-large board member Lynn Gray, who called Tuesday's workshop. "If we don't have the children behaving, if they're not in school, then all that academic input is not going to occur."

10 Investigates asked Superintendent Van Ayres why suspension data was not presented at a workshop focused on student conduct and discipline. 

"That's a great question," he said. "What we do is we work with the board member that requested the workshop on the information that they [need], and our staff works with that particular board member as they requested the workshop."

Gray's workshop request did not mention specifically suspensions. She did mention disparities in a brief interview before the workshop. 

"Disproportionate Black suspensions, what are we doing about it?" she asked.

Superintendent Van Ayres told 10 Investigates that suspension numbers are available and ensured they would be available immediately. 

"So, we do have all that data. I'll be happy to share all that data. It's really good data for all of us to have and see," he said.

10 Investigates received a document later that evening showing more than 11,000 suspensions this academic year. The numbers show a decrease from more than 12,000 this time in the previous school year. 

Ayres said managing student discipline remains a top priority. "This is my number one focus because as we look at discipline and discipline infractions, we need...our students in school," he explained.

Gray said while the numbers appear high, it's often the same students who are getting suspended repeatedly. 

"That goes on the data," she said. 

Lewis says she looks forward to collaborating with the school district on solutions. 

"I think it's just a matter of all of us coming together and working to find out what is best for the child and also for the teacher because the teacher needs to be able to teach in a classroom where it's a healthy classroom," she said. 

Emerald Morrow is an investigative reporter with 10 Tampa Bay. Like her on Facebook and follow her on X. You can also email her at emorrow@10tampabay.com.

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