This school district, apparently, has a “moratorium” on school arrests. An attempt to reduce the “school-to-prison pipeline”

“Moratorium on school-related arrests”

The Council continues to work with the Pinellas County School Board in an effort to stop school-related arrests for disorderly conduct and disruption of school environment.

The Council’s efforts to stop these arrests support our three-year strategic plan as a way to prevent youth from entering the juvenile justice system. The Council began its effort in January 2006. Recently, on June 13 and again on July 13, 2006, the School Board held workshops to address the issue of discipline and school-related arrests. On July 11, Superintendent Wilcox sent me this message:

“We are continuing to work on the arrest data … while we have not gotten to the point I or any of the team would like … I believe we are and we will make progress reducing and hopefully eliminating arrests on our campuses for any reason. Creating more civil classroom and school environments will be a major focus of our back to school work.”

On July 13 Carol Cook, Chair, of the Pinellas County School Board sent this email:

“It is my opinion that the Board is not ready to call for a moratorium on the specific school-related charges arrests. We understand that you are addressing the childhood misbehaviors not arrests for things such as drugs and other violent behaviors, however as we discussed at the workshop today I believe we have begun the discussion, the superintendent is looking for alternatives and we are moving toward changing some of the practices of both the school officials and law enforcement.”

I believe the school board is beginning to move to reduce, if not eliminate, school-related arrests for childhood misbehaviors. This is a nation wide problem and when the school board finds alternatives that maintain discipline without arrest, it may well set a national precedent. Let this Council continue to help them stay on track.”

URL here:
pinellasjjc.org