MUSD leaders look at student behavior by the numbers

A top Maricopa Unified School District administrator laid out the extent of student disciplinary cases, which have their share of ups and downs, depending on the school.

“An incident is a matter that was serious enough to be handled by an administrator,” Assistant Supt. of Administrative Services Tracey Pastor said, addressing the MUSD Governing Board Wednesday night.

Consequences of a discipline incident can as minor as an administrator calling a parent, to a punishment as serious as a “long-term suspension,” Pastor said.

Elementary schools during their first semester:

• Butterfield Elementary had 75 discipline incidents in 2022-’23 compared to 96 in 2023-’24.
• Maricopa Elementary reported 17 incidents in the first semester of ‘22-‘23 compared to 84 in ‘23-‘24.
• Pima Butte Elementary had 12 incidents compared to ‘22-‘23 first semester compared to 75 in ‘23-‘24.
• Saddleback reported 280 incidents in ‘22-‘23 compared to 127 incidents in 23-24.
• Santa Cruz reported 106 incidents in ‘22-‘23 compared to 77 in ‘23-‘24.
• Santa Rosa had 13 incidents reported in ‘22-‘23 compared to 158 during ‘23-‘24.

Middle schools during their first semesters reported:

• Desert Wind reported 680 incidents for 2022-‘23 compared to 530 incidents during ’23-‘24.
• Maricopa Wells had 827 discipline incidents reported for ‘22-‘23 compared to 430 total incidents in 2023-‘24.

High schools during their first semesters reported:

• Desert Sunrise, 202 discipline incidents in ‘22-‘23 compared to 369 in ‘23-’24.
• Maricopa High reported 481 incidents in ‘22-‘23 compared to 374 in ‘23-’24.

“You can see that some have more, some have less,” Pastor said, with variables and statistics look at routinely by principals and reviewed with administrative staff.

Pastor talked about re-offending students districtwide show that most students did not re-offend. The highest number of one-time incidents involved fighting, she said.

“Minor aggressive acts” total 142 one-time incidents, she said, with 108 involving drugs or drug paraphernalia. The number of one-time assaults were 86.

Students committing more than one offense totaled 34 minor aggressive acts, 21 for fighting, and 11 assaults, she said.

Pastor said when a student does not have a trusted adult in which they can confide, MUSD has an anonymous tip line to report incidents, such as bullying, intimidation, harassment, weapons or drugs.

“It was used positively and beautifully this week when information was shared through the tip line” that resulted in a positive outcome at a high school, Pastor said.

Tips can be made to the website at HTTP://1679.alert.us or by email at [email protected]. The tip line to call is 833-284-6770.

“We’ve seen an increase of the promotion of the tip line and always appreciate any tips we receive,” Pastor said.