A lack of data about school suspensions has left some trustees in suspense.
During the Simcoe County District School Board’s program standing committee meeting on April 10, trustees were given this year’s suspension report, which, overall, shows suspensions have held steady with about five per cent of students disciplined in this manner in 2022-23. This is consistent with previous years.
However, one trustee questioned the data as it was presented, noting the suspension report in previous years had provided a more well-rounded perspective on the issue.
“I am very concerned about this report, mainly because last year when we got this report it was very detailed,” said New Tecumseth trustee Sarah Beitz.
Beitz listed off statistics that were included in previous suspension reports not included this time around, which included year-over-year data, information on expulsions and data split by gender.
“This only had key findings for this year. This is a step backwards,” she said.
The report covered student suspensions over the past five years, starting with the 2018-19 school year to 2022-23.
Over the past five years, the board-wide suspension rate has been between two per cent and five per cent. Broken down even more, there was a decline in the number of suspensions from 2018-19 to 2020-21, and an increase post-2021-22.
In 2022-23, there were 4,861 suspensions recorded for 2,996 students. Of those, the majority of students who were suspended had one suspension (69 per cent) or two suspensions (16 per cent).
Length of suspensions ranged from one to 20 days, with an average suspension length being three days.
There were 35 different types of infractions that led to suspensions, the most common being "conduct injurious to the moral tone of the school" (29 per cent), conduct injurious to the well-being of others (15 per cent) and fighting (10 per cent).
Following Beitz’s inquiry, superintendent of education Scott Young said he would take Beitz’s concerns back to staff.
But Beitz pushed on.
“Can you confirm you will provide the full report to us?” she asked. “I look forward to this report. I would like to formally request this full report sent to all trustees.”
The board’s research manager, Lisa Newton, clarified that while last year the gender split for suspensions was 70 per cent male-identified students and 30 per cent female-identified students, this year those numbers had moved slightly to a 68/32 per cent split.
Orillia/Severn/Ramara trustee and board chair Jodi Lloyd disagreed with Beitz.
“I actually found this report to be quite interesting. One of the things we’re hearing about across the province is escalating behaviours,” said Lloyd.
Back in December, local trustees received a report on violence in Simcoe County public schools. According to the report, there were 159 violent incidents in their schools in the 2022-23 school year, a 30.3 per cent increase over the previous year, which is a trend also playing out in all Ontario school boards.
“Our suspensions are not increasing. We’re doing what we can to mitigate. That’s a really good thing,” said Lloyd.
Adjala-Tosorontio/Clearview/CFB Borden/Essa trustee Brandy Rafeek said she hears a mix of feedback from the community when it comes to suspensions.
“I hear quite a bit that we don’t suspend students enough. It’s a tough balance. How do superintendents guide principals to achieve that balance?” asked Rafeek.
Young said there are many mitigating factors taken into consideration when a school’s principal does an investigation into an issue.
“There are proactive measures taken ... principals are always working through progressive discipline. Our hope is we are constantly educating to move forward, away from misconduct or behaviour,” said Young.
“Our first option is not always suspension. The nuance is different depending on the situation,” he said.
