九色视频

Reviewing the district鈥檚 data on suspensions, expulsions and more, Darlene Spurrier, director of student services, explained that according to state regulations, administrators must indicate an 鈥渋mminent threat鈥� in order to expel a student.

Expelling a student is a last resort, Spurrier said, adding that standard came as part of a 鈥渟weeping change鈥� of the regulation around 10 years ago.

In the last three full school years and so far this year, there have been no expulsions of Talbot County students, according to data presented Monday.

鈥淚t is a very difficult standard to meet,鈥� Spurrier said. She said that at times it can feel like a crystal ball is needed to determine whether a student poses an imminent threat.

Suspensions can range anywhere from one to 44 days, Spurrier said. Any mark at 45 days or above is considered an expulsion.

Out-of-school suspensions have been largely steady. Data presented by Spurrier showed there were 334, 355 and 344 such suspensions in school years 2022-2023, 2023-2024 and 2024-2025, respectively. This year, there have been 46 out-of-school suspensions so far.

In the same three-year span, TCPS had 60, 52 and 51 student arrests, and 12, 14 and 32 reportable offenses. Arrests are on school grounds either delivered by paper warrants or physical arrests, while reportable offenses occur off-school grounds and result in action by the school district.

Compared to neighboring counties, Spurrier pointed out that TCPS has a relatively low rate of students suspended or expelled. In 2023-2024, 5% of Talbot students were suspended or expelled. Queen Anne鈥檚 County came in at 3.1%, while Caroline (6.4%), Kent (7.1%), Dorchester (16.2%) and Somerset (17.4%) were all higher.

Bullying reports have hovered around the same mark in recent years: 72 in 2022-2023, 73 in 2023-2024 and 65 in 2024-2025.

Board President Emily Jackson asked if the district is encouraging students and families to fill out the bullying reports when appropriate.

鈥淚 know for a while there was both an understanding in the community and kind of a prevailing attitude of, don鈥檛 fill out the report,鈥� Jackson said.

Spurrier said the district never wants 鈥渢o discourage a family or a student鈥� from filling out the report paperwork. Jackson agreed.

鈥淓ven if it doubles our numbers, even if it looks bad,鈥� she said.

Superintendent Sharon Pepukayi asked Spurrier if the state has certain red flags when assessing disciplinary data. For the most part, Spurrier said the state does not, though she noted the state does track if there is 鈥渄isproportionate disciplinary practices,鈥� especially for Black students and students with disabilities.

The student services director said the district is aware it needs to 鈥渕ake sure that we are being equitable in how we鈥檙e imposing discipline.鈥�

Board Member Ann O鈥機onnor expressed some concern.

鈥淚sn鈥檛 it just a matter of who鈥檚 breaking the rules and who鈥檚 not?鈥� she said. O鈥機onnor later added: 鈥淚 just hope we are not not disciplining students because it looks like we are disciplining more of the Black or underserved (students).鈥�

Jackson emphasized it鈥檚 important for the district to consider its discipline interventions for underserved students and whether more funding should be allocated to those groups to proactively solve disciplinary issues.

Spurrier said it comes down to making sure two different students in two different subgroups are receiving similar discipline.

鈥淎re we responding differently to students who have the same offense?鈥� Spurrier said.