A Valley high school that has found a way to dramatically reduce the need to suspend and expel students will share its story this Monday at the White House.
Le Grand High School is sending a delegation to Washington to advocate for the creation and support of school-based Discipline That Restores (DTR) programs nationally. “The main goal is to ensure that the White House supports the growth of school-based restorative justice practices. We will dialog with them on school discipline and efforts to end the school-to-prison pipeline,” said Javier Martinez, LGHS principal. The group leaves Saturday, August 20, and the meeting takes place the following Monday.
The school has worked with the Fresno Pacific University DTR program for five years. “We have had great success in building community, transforming school culture and creating opportunities for our young people to succeed,” Martinez said.
LGHS is one of several schools that use FPU’s DTR, according to program director Cynthia Kaitfors-Smith. “They’re one of the model schools that we brag about,” she said.
Research shows students who are suspended and expelled are at higher risk for prison later in life. Before starting Discipline That Restores, 80-90 students were being suspended and 35 expelled each year at the 500-student high school. “Over the past few years we’ve narrowed that down to zero expulsions and maybe one-two suspensions,” according to Martinez.
DTR trains educators and students to address problems in constructive ways. “Instead of getting in a fight, we have them talk instead,” Martinez said.
The heart of the process is the Restorative Justice League, which students run something like a court. This is very effective, Martinez says: “Students are finding solutions among themselves. They would much rather talk to their peers than to adults.”
Located in Le Grand, a rural community of around 1,600 people 12 miles southeast of Merced, LGHS has demographics similar to many areas of California’s Central Valley. The economy depends on agriculture, 85 percent of the student population is Latino and all students are entitled to receive free lunches.
LGHS is the only school represented in the White House trip, which is being organized by the California Restorative Schools Coalition, based in Sacramento (facebook.com/restorativeschoolsca/). Delegates are Principal Martinez; staff members Fernando Maciel (conflict resolution leader), Andre Griggs (restorative justice coordinator) and Rebecca Ybarra (restorative justice lead); and Destiny Murillo, a senior involved in the program.
Martinez knew of FPU’s reputation in restorative justice and began by working with Ron Claassen, D.Min., faculty emeritus, with funding from a California Endowment grant. “It was natural for us to form a partnership with Fresno Pacific University, as I knew we could count on them to make a difference in the region,” Martinez said.
For more information, contact Javier Martinez at 209-658-1541 or jmartinez@lghs.k12.ca.us or Cynthia Kaitfors-Smith at 559-453-2042 or DTR.director@fresno.edu.