Durango School District 9-R says recently released statistics showing increased behavioral problems involving students during the 2021-22 school year are likely related to the pandemic.
As of the end of February, the cumulative totals for 2021-22 were “nearly double” the 290 average behavioral issues from the preceding five-year period, according to state data and a 9-R report. Already, 539 state-reported behavioral incidents had been recorded across grades K-12.
“The data tells us that some of our students are struggling to meet behavior expectations at this time,” said Executive Director of Student Support Services Vanessa Giddings. “We use our behavior data to provide resources, support and services to our staff, students and families.”
Among the 539 incidents, 420 were distinct student incidents. Distinct incidents are students who had only one reported behavioral incident.
“Some students have been engaged in multiple events,” Giddings said.
The 2020-21 school year experienced only 228 behavioral incidents among students in the 9-R district. Many students during the 2020-21 school year were attending school online because of COVID-19, which caused a drop in reported behavioral incidents.
Giddings said the district is confident the spike in behavioral incidents is related to the pandemic.
“Districts across the state and nation are experiencing similar increases in behaviors among students,” she said. “There are some students who have been more significantly impacted by the pandemic and who need additional support and reteaching regarding the expected behaviors in schools.”
Giddings noted the majority of students are not taking part in these behaviors.
The numbers being reported for this school year stop at February, and the remaining months will be added to the existing figures.
According to the state report, the most common behavioral problem with 9-R students is disobedient, defiant behavior that repeatedly interferes with instruction. In 2020-21 there were 87 reported incidents of disobedient behavior. That has risen to 146 incidents so far this year.
Detrimental behavior is up from 19 incidents in 2020-21 to 98 incidents this year. The Colorado Department of Education defines detrimental behavior as an incident that is detrimental to the welfare or safety of other students or of school personnel, including incidents of bullying and other behavior that creates a threat of physical harm to the student or to other students.
Marijuana violations are down to 20 incidents from 30 the previous school year, while tobacco violations have more than doubled from 16 in the 2020-21 school year to 44 so far this year. Additionally, there are 25 drug-related incidents, and 11 alcohol-related incidents so far this school year.
Threats of physical attack have doubled this school year, up from 16 to 32 reported incidents.
The state’s report notes that 74% of incidents involved male students, while 26% involved female students.
Durango School District has what’s known as positive interventions and support systems that work to create positive behavioral change, such as creating positive school culture, hosting parent nights and creating open communication between school and home.
Since March, every middle school in the district has added a dean of students role to help address behavioral issues.
Additionally, Giddings said the district has a behavior team of experts who provide additional resources, such as functional behavioral assessments to identify the cause of the behaviors, coordination and implementation of personalized behavior plans, and consulting services with community partners to meet the specific needs of students.
njohnson@durangoherald.com
