VALDOSTA — The number of discipline referrals during the 2016-17 school year decreased for five Valdosta City Schools while suspension numbers increased for six schools. 

The most significant changes in the number of discipline referrals were with the two city middle schools, one with an increase and the other a decrease. 

VCS data showed Valdosta Middle School had a lower amount of discipline referrals for the 2016-17 school year in comparison to the 2015-16 school year with the number decreasing to 550 from 740, a difference of 190 less referrals. 

For J.L. Newbern Middle School, there was an increase of 193 discipline referrals in the 2016-17 school year, with the numbers increasing from 884 to 1,078, according to data. 

Valdosta High School’s number of discipline referrals decreased by 121 in the 2016-17 school year, going from 1,611 in the 2015-16 school year to 1,491 the next school year, according to VCS data. 

W.G. Nunn Elementary School also had less referrals, going from 647 discipline referrals in the 2015-16 school year to 484 in the 2016-17 school year, according to VCS data. 

J.L. Lomax Elementary School and Pinevale Elementary School also decreased in the number of discipline referrals according to 2016-17 data but by less significant amounts than the schools previously mentioned. 

Sallas Mahone Elementary School and S.L. Mason Elementary School numbers of discipline referrals increased during the 2016-17 school year but by a less significant amount than Newbern Middle. 

The changes of in-school suspensions and out-of-school suspensions wavered, with four schools have decreasing ISS numbers and two having decreasing OSS numbers.  

Five schools increased in OSS numbers in the 2016-17 school year. Newbern Middle and Valdosta High both increased by more than 100, according to data. Newbern had the greatest difference with an increase of 197 for a total of 654 in the 2016-17 school year from 457 the prior year. 

Valdosta Middle OSS numbers decreased by 100, going from 246 in the 2015-16 school year to 149 in the 2016-17 school year. Data showed that W.G. Nunn Elementary was the only other VCS school that’s OSS numbers decreased. 

W.G. Nunn Elementary, Pinevale Elementary, Newbern Middle and Valdosta Middle ISS numbers decreased in the 2016-17 school year, according to data. The greatest decrease in ISS numbers was at Valdosta Middle with a change of 437 to 349, a difference of 88.

Sallas Mahone Elementary, S.L. Mason Elementary School and Valdosta High ISS numbers increased in the 2016-17 school year. Data showed the most significant change was at Sallas Mahone Elementary with an increase of 283 to 348, a difference of 65. 

Superintendent Dr. Todd Cason said VCS is working to be “more proactive than punitive.” He said positive behavioral intervention and supports is one way the system is working toward that goal. 

Assistant Superintendent Scarlet Brown said four VCS schools are state-partnered with the Georgia Department of Education for positive behavioral intervention and supports: S.L. Mason Elementary, W.G. Nunn Elementary, Newbern Middle and Pinevale Elementary. She said other VCS schools are incorporating PBIS components but are not yet state-partnered. 

Cason said in line with the VCS strategic plan, the system wants to see at least a 10 percent decrease in suspension numbers in the future. 

Brown said decreasing discipline numbers is important to make sure the school climate is conducive to learning. She said VCS is looking at why the bad behavior is happening, trying to find the cause and then work to put in place things to help. 

Kimberly Cannon is a Reporter with The Valdosta Daily Times. Her extension is 1376.