The Killeen ISD school board voted this week to require a district-wide restorative practices training for teachers in an effort to curtail excessive disciplinary measures and boost academic performance.
The board on Tuesday unanimously approved the districtâs proposed agreement with National Educators for Restorative Practices, LLC, for the district-wide training.
The company will âprovide a framework of processes for the implementation of a district-wide discipline management system that has proven to have positive impacts on improved student discipline and academic success, campus and district-wide,â according to KISD.
Beginning next school year, and possibly as early as this summer, all Killeen ISD educators will be required to complete a one-day restorative practices training. When the training will take place, and whether teachers will be given supplemental pay for the training, will be addressed at the May 11 board meeting.
An African American student in the Killeen Independent School District is more likely to be placed in an alternative disciplinary setting than his Caucasian or Hispanic peers, according to data presented at the districtâs board workshop meeting Tuesday.
During an overview of KISDâs Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP), presented by Deputy Superintendent Eric Penrod, a series of inequitable statistics emerged.
âWhen I look at the data, when I see 34% of our student body is African American, and I see 65% of our DAEP (Disciplinary Alternative Education Program) is African American, that is alarming to me,â Board secretary Brett Williams said Tuesday.
Two Killeen area leaders recently provided a special donation of customized student-written books and a grant to enhance literacy efforts throughout Killeen ISD schools.
Brockley Moore, a longtime supporter of the school district, presented a $3,000 donation to the school district through the Seen and Unseen Hands organization.
Those funds will assist reading and writing literacy efforts as needed.
Another Killeen resident, Kris Price, donated 320 books, most with a personal touch.
Her new literacy program features books written by local students. The books are meant to encourage children. They promote character building and ideals such as setting goals and considering career options.