By Suzanne Russell
PERTH AMBOY — School district staff members are looking for improvements to the discipline policy this fall that will alleviate the problems experienced last year when only the superintendent was authorized to suspend students.
The change is being sought after teachers expressed outrage over a report released by Superintendent of Schools Janine Walker Caffrey this week that indicated improvements in student behavior during the 2011-12 school year, her first leading the special-needs district of 10,000 students.
Donna Chiera, president of Perth Amboy Federation/AFT, the union representing teachers and other staff members, said staff members were frustrated during most of the 2011-12 school year because when there was an incident in the school and it was reported, building administrators said they couldn’t suspend the students.
She said one teacher injured by a student had to undergo physical therapy for three weeks. The student spent a half-day in the school detention room.
“The older kids know the administrators can’t do anything,” said Chiera, adding that the students don’t see any real consequences for their actions. “The goal of discipline should be to change behavior. They don’t change behavior unless they see there are consequences. It’s frustrating. There is a link between student behavior and a safe and orderly school.”
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