Borja said their school computer system has been upgraded and some of the records in 2003 were presented manually.
“So this is no fault of anybody in particular but somehow inaccurate information was provided” to PSS, she said.
The Board of Education recently noted that MHS had the second highest suspension rate in 2007 to 2008 with 676 cases.
Borja believes that the data indicating that Saipan Southern High School had 1,784 cases and the highest suspension rate in 2007-2008 was “overstated.”
Difference
MHS, she added, is now working on the corrected data.
Borja said all school principals will meet to discuss the corrected data.
She said the data analysis failed to distinguish suspension from infraction.
“Infraction or incident basically is what the student is brought in for. Sometimes it is something like a dress code violation and we warned the students or have them go home to change clothes. That is not suspension,” she said.
Borja said the students should be reminded always of the rules but every infraction does not lead to suspension.
Effect
The number of MHS students suspended was less than 10 percent of the total student population, Borja said.
The suspension rate involved a small number of students, she added.
“That is why we are proud of the students speaking out and saying that our school is safe and is conducive to learning.”
Borja said disrespect may be the most prevalent of all offenses.
In 2007-2008, according to a BOE report, possession of tobacco and betelnut topped the offenses committed by students of MHS, 288; Saipan Southern High School, 177; Kagman High School, 23; Hopwood Junior High School, one.
This was followed by “other” offenses — betel nut chewing, excessive absences and tardiness, disruptive behavior, and refusal to obey teacher.
Drop
Borja said the report’s statistics in the number of offenses should have declined.
In the first quarter, she said, the number of offenses were high because there were many new students who could be unaware of the rules.
But, she added, by the third quarter the suspension rate drops because students already know the rules.
“We outline all of the rules in our handbook. We give all students a copy of the discipline policy so they will be aware of it but some of them still try their independence sometimes,” Borja said.
In elementary school, students will be given another chance, but in high school students should know the rules, she said.
Borja said family upbringing may be one of the factors for the behavior of some students.
Alternative
Although, it is unrealistic, Borja said they are hoping to see MHS “suspension-free.”
She said they have options to address suspensions, but they need funding and support personnel.
MHS is proposing the creation of an alternative education setting that will accommodate suspended students instead of sending them home.
“We need several support personnel, like counselors to work with students with different kinds of behavior,” Borja said.
The process of suspending a student depends on the gravity of the offense.
But normally, Borja said, a student will get a warning for the third offense.
For the fourth offense, the school will meet the student’s parents to discuss an offense that may warrant a suspension.
