Volatile ground

A combination of big changes in the St. Paul School District a year ago, plus its desire to keep unruly students in school rather than suspend them, has made discipline an ongoing concern:

May 2013

Reports show suspensions are down as the school year ends, but teachers say behavior is not necessarily improving — and in some places may be worsening.

July 2013

The school board adopts a new racial equity policy solidifying the district's commitment to rid itself of the "institutional racism" that may hold back students of color. The policy affirms efforts to erase the overrepresentation of black students among those who are suspended.

September 2013

The Strong Schools, Strong Communities strategic plan launches in full with sixth-graders now part of middle schools and more special-education students and English language learners moving into regular classrooms. A lack of staff support is cited as behavioral issues brew at Murray Middle School.

Winter 2013-14

Five teachers meet quietly with board members seeking ways to promote higher expectations of students and greater consequences for those who misbehave.

April 2014

Parents storm school board listening sessions with concerns about disciplinary issues and fast-track mainstreaming of English language learners and special-education students.

June 2014

The 2013-14 school year ends with suspensions up 63 percent in the middle-school grades — and 141 percent in sixth-grade alone.

July 2014

Ramsey parents meet with board members and district leaders in search of an action plan to turn around the school. Parents leave believing there will be changes in September.

July/August 2014

Superintendent Valeria Silva, acknowledging a difficult year in 2013-14, convenes a group to review discipline-related issues.

September 2014

Exodus of teachers begins at Ramsey as behavioral issues continue with no plan to confront them. Nine teachers leave by the end of November.

November 2014

The same afternoon that parents plan to speak to the board about a lack of action at Ramsey, a letter goes out detailing a new "behavior support program" to be put in place there.

February 2015

Nearly a dozen candidates challenging school board incumbents hit DFL ward conventions under a "Caucus for Change" banner. At Ramsey, in a meeting with parents, Principal Teresa Vibar reports that discipline referrals are down after the deployment of behavior specialists in December.