PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland Public Schools (PPS) is altering its suspension policy, after agreeing to a new contract with its teachers on Sunday.
The district and teachers agreed to give more support to kids and cut back on suspensions. Portland Public also plans to divert more resources, like psychologists, therapists and school counselors to intervene before students' problems escalate into fights.
"It was very difficult to get that rapid response on time," said Francisca Alvarez, a bilingual instructional coach at Scott Elementary School.
Alvarez said after the past few years, she has noticed a change in students.
"Educators are seeing more students in crisis," Alvarez said.
Since the pandemic, there’s been more mental health issues in Portland Public Schools, and sometimes, that’s led to fights in school, Alvarez said.
Previously, PPS could suspend middle and high school for at least five days for extreme cases of physical harm or threats of violence. Now, a new contract agreement with teachers changes that.
"Through this bargain, we have added or expanded a team of professionals," said PPS Chief of Student Services Jey Buno.
Instead of minimum five-day suspensions, staff psychologists, counselors and social workers will take a more hands on role. Other staff will also help provide additional student support.
"Now when students are in crisis, we have a rapid response team that we made sure to increase," Alvarez said.
Rapid response teams increased from four to 12. They will intervene earlier when teachers and principals realize a student may need help.
"We have to move to the prevention and not the reaction," Alvarez said.
PPS said there will be instances where discipline and suspending students may be required.
"We'll take the unique circumstances of the situation and the student into consideration," Buno said.
Some students are also unsure how effective the policy will be.
"I guess my question would be 'How do they know what to intervene with?'" asked Lincoln High School senior Casey Marotta.