PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The schools are overly suspending African-American boys on IEPs, according to the state.

 

Superintendent Jason McCandless told the School Committee on Wednesday to expect a letter to arrive soon from Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Mitchell D. Chester informing the district of a disparity.

 

McCandless said about 8 percent of those fitting that demographic — African-American boys with individualized educational plans — have been suspended, which is too much according to the state.

 

"It's still above the threshold that DESE is holding right now for us to stay under," McCandless said.

 

The superintendent says what counts as a suspension is anything that removes the students from the classroom.

 

McCandless said there are tutoring programs and the student resource center where students are sent when they are disruptive, which continues to provide educational services but still counts as a suspension.

 

According to the state data, there is a category for alternative placements but Pittsfield is listed as providing zero — conforming with McCandless' assertion. Of all Massachusetts schools, only 11 are listed as providing any alternative placements and each of those are less than 1 percent. 

 

"We look at it as that we suspend very few students. We separate students from an academic program almost never. And almost never more than three days," McCandless said. "Certainly students on IEPs are severed from educational programs never. This would include students in the SRC, that are in our various tutoring program, etc." 

 

The School Committee and the mayor took exception to the assertion that the district was doing something wrong. 

 

"Everything being done in the School Department with these kids who are being suspended, regardless of color, is done for a reason," School Committee member Anthony Riello said.

 

Riello called the report "nonsense" and said he'd like to speak with representatives from DESE firsthand about it. Riello urged the committee and school staff not to have a "knee-jerk reaction" to the news. 

 

"Every one suffers if there is a knee jerk reaction to this," Riello said.

 

Mayor Linda Tyer said the definition of suspension is too broad so that the report doesn't mean much. 

 

"I think the limitations on the definition, because it is clear that we are providing continued academic support in the face of some behavioral issues, seems in some ways to put us at a disadvantage," Tyer said. "We are trying to do what works. I appreciate the honesty about the challenge but I also think we have something to be proud of."

 

While Chairwoman Katherine Yon says she would like to know what other districts are doing because Pittsfield is going out of its way to keep the students connected with educational programs by sending the students to alternative options.

 

"I think it is frustrating because we try so hard not to separate students from the education, trying everything we can to do that. So it is not a traditional suspension," Yon said. "I would like to know what other school districts are doing."

 

DESE does not provide any funding for the district, so there are no actual penalties other than making the information public. McCandless says the district is open and honest about the city's ups and downs, so a press release isn't a threat.

 

"The threat to us is a threat of conscience. This troubles us. So we will be keeping this in our minds and in our hearts as we press forward," McCandless said. 

 

The superintendent said the administration is taking the letter "very seriously" but would also like to know if the state is willing to provide funding and guidance to change the trend. 

 

"I really hope that as well as letting us know this is a challenge — which we already know because we look at this data — that we are hopeful that the state would be providing at a minimum some technical assistance to let us know how to better address this and what are some alternatives," McCandless said.

 

Despite agreeing with those who questioned the data, McCandless said there is certainly more that needs to be done in the district and that it requires the city to look within and fix problems.

 

Pittsfield is one of 32 districts statewide that will receive the letters. 

 

"What this is moving us toward is that we really won't have suspensions unless there is an imminent danger or a threat of danger from a student," McCandless said.

 

On 3.2 percent of the school's population was given an in-school suspension and just 1.4 percent were given out-of-school suspensions. However, among students with disabilities, Pittsfield has dished out in-school suspensions to 15.4 percent and out-of-school suspensions to 8.3 percent.

 

The second highest percent in Pittsfield is among African-Americans with 5.4 percent receiving in-school suspensions and 2.6 percent receiving out-of-school suspensions. That is compared to white students being suspended at a rate of 2.8 and 1.6 percent, in-school and out-of-school suspensions, respectively. 

 

The state has been moving away from suspensions altogether since 2014 when new discipline rules were adopted. In the 2014-2015 school year, suspensions statewide dropped by some 20 percent. The reform placed out-of-school suspension as a last resort and relegated to non-violent, non-drug-related and non-criminal offenses.

 

Despite the reduction and change in rules, the school year statewide continued to have a disparity in suspensions between white students and African-American students.