The Saugus Union School District’s governing board is addressing its ongoing struggle with student behavioral issues, aiming to provide a safer learning environment for its students. The issue has been on the table since February 5th when a special meeting was held to discuss behavior challenges in the district.
Superintendent Colleen Hawkins explained that the decision to revisit the topic came after discussions with board President Patti Garibay about the need to address the issue. They discussed the Education Code’s requirement to use alternative methods of correction, aside from suspension and elimination of recess, which limits available consequences.
Ingrid Boydston, a kindergarten teacher in the district, presented 10 recommendations for improving behavioral issues. These included closing communication gaps with teachers, involving parents earlier, reinstating allowed consequences, restoring basic behavior management tools, and addressing overcrowding and inadequate staffing.
The board aims to give Hawkins and her cabinet direction on potential practices to adopt but not change policy. The proposed solutions include immediate parent engagement, utilizing school guidebooks more efficiently, and implementing quiet time or one-on-one teacher-student sessions.
Board members discussed the importance of collaboration between teachers, parents, and administrators in addressing behavioral issues. Some expressed concerns about providing too much guidance without consulting experts from the behavior council, which will present its findings at the next board meeting. Ultimately, the district seeks to create a safe environment for all students to learn and grow.
Source: https://signalscv.com/2025/02/susd-governing-board-discusses-possible-behavior-consequences