Winston Salem Times

Students who act up in school have long faced the possibility of suspension, and last year Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools recorded about 30,000 days of missed class time because of suspensions.

The school system, however, is questioning the wisdom of keeping troublemakers out of school for a while, only to have them return and act up again. It's also wondering if suspensions serve their purpose.

"If students are not in school, they are definitely missing the opportunity to gain the content they are going to need to succeed,” Tricia McManus, superintendent of Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools, said in a WFMY report. 

That thinking has prompted the school system to devise a new Code of Character, Conduct and Support that moves beyond the notion of disciplining a student and not trying to get them beyond any rough patches they might be experiencing.

It focuses not just on consequences for stepping out of line but also offers restorative solutions.

"It creates clarity around expectations across the system,” McManus said. “It also focuses on building relationships between students and adults and honestly our students thrive if they are cared for and loved and that's what happens in the code." 

It calls for students to work with counselors and social workers to improve their behavior. 

"In the past, you issue a consequence, the student comes right back to school and go back into the classroom and repeats the behavior,” Learning Support Chief Officer Lionel Kato said. “There’s no real effort or intentionality in making sure that the behavior is not repeated."

The 30,000 lost instructional days last year is simply not acceptable, McManus said. They are hoping a more supportive approach will decrease that number of lost days as the system also turns to mentoring and problem-solving advice.