Policy changes regulating when school personnel can physically restrain a student after police said a now-banned substitute teacher beat an eighth grader prompted a review of existing procedures in Waukegan Community Unit School District 60.
A majority of Board of Education members agreed with board President Brandon Ewing’s call for a zero-tolerance policy at an Oct. 26 meeting should a teacher, administrator or staff member touch a student prompted concern from at least one teacher.
“I feel my hands are tied because of recent statements that anyone putting their hands on a student will be terminated without any prior investigations because of zero tolerance,” Margot Gillen, a teacher and behavior specialist trained in de-escalation techniques, said.
Gillen made her comment at Wednesday’s board meeting, saying too strict a policy could cause teachers to leave the district. Comments were made by others at the meeting about a different incident which they felt merited administration attention.
District 60 Superintendent Theresa Plascencia recently announced a districtwide, multipronged policy review of potential use of physical restraints and more to clearly define how to de-escalate conflicts whether between teachers and students, or among the youngsters themselves.
Plascencia said Ewing’s suggestion of a zero-tolerance policy is one of the possibilities under consideration along with physical restraints allowed by the Illinois State Board of Education after certified training.
“We are working on possible policy proposals regarding inappropriate physical contact or restraint with students,” Plascencia said in the email. “We will be working with our board to explore this further,” she added, referring to Ewing’s suggestion.
Board member Lucy Leguizamo, who said she supports a zero-tolerance policy, said personnel with CPI (Crisis Prevention Institute) training approved by the state Board of Education should be able to use those skills.
Ewing said Monday CPI with proper training is an appropriate exception. “CPI should be used to hold a student in a safe way to keep them from harming themselves or others,” he said.
Tasha London, the district’s coordinator of crisis interventions and social-emotional learning, said CPI is nonviolent intervention training where a passive hold is used to keep a person from harming themselves or others. She stresses all other techniques should be used first.
“You start with verbal de-escalation,” London said. “You talk in a calm, soothing voice. You try to understand what they need, be aware of your body language and theirs. Only if there is the danger of them doing harm to themself or others would you use a nonviolent hold.”
Plascencia said the district is now working on new conflict resolution and de-escalation training for all staff as part of the overall review. She anticipates it will start in the next few weeks to, “ensure that all staff have and utilize tools to help mitigate conflict with students.”
“While this type of training is not new for most of our staff, it will help reemphasize verbal and emotional de-escalation techniques, including those regarding possible mental health challenges faced by students,” Plascencia said.
London said the training, which is required for school safety personnel and certain administrators, is “highly recommended” for teachers. At this time, there are appropriately 24 district personnel fully trained. She is a certified trainer.
Along with training, Plascencia said the administration is considering how to expand and enhance its use of background checks.
Along with the situation with the substitute teacher who can no longer work in the district and is facing felony charges, there were public comments at Wednesday’s meeting about a student who had a confrontation with school personnel in September. Nick Alatzakis, the district’s communications director, said that situation is under further review.
