LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas — The Little Rock School District Board of Education has now passed new disciplinary procedures.
On Thursday, they called a special meeting to discuss the changes.
LRSD showed that there were more than 2,500 incidents of fighting in the 6th through 12th grades. This included terroristic threats and physical assaults on staff.
"Those infractions are something we have to get a handle on," said Vicki Hatter, an LRSD board member.
The changes would lessen the steps it would take for administration to discipline a student for disorderly conduct.
"We are a restorative district. We have not gotten away from the desire to restore students," said Frederick Fields, LRSD's Student/Family Services Senior Director.
Some of those changes include:
- 1st offense for fighting would be 5 to 10 days suspension
- 2nd offense would be cause for expulsion or being placed in alternative learning
If a student is caught threatening the safety of others or a physical assault on staff, they will be expelled or placed in alternative learning immediately.
LRSD also made a change requiring parents to have a meeting with staff to understand the severity of the situation and hopefully come to a resolution for the student.
Other changes that were discussed included stricter discipline for cyberbullying and group activity that results in threats or violence.