Novato school district reports ‘improvements’ in student behavior

Novato students have had fewer cellphone violations and fights this school year compared to the same period in 2023, an administrator said.

“We are seeing some improvements this year,” Mike Saisi, the student services director at the Novato Unified School District, told trustees during their board meeting on Dec. 17. “Discipline issues have decreased thanks to the combination of positive behavior reinforcement, strong staff collaboration and a stricter enforcement of policies.”

Incidents of bullying, however, rose slightly from last year, Saisi said. He also noted that incidents of hate speech were relatively high in the first year of tracking, although most were not directed at any specific students or staff.

Saisi said 54 students had 56 cellphone rules violations from the start of school in August to Nov. 30. In the same time period in 2023, 65 students had 71 violations.

A violation could entail having a phone out in the classroom during instruction rather than stowing it in a hanging caddy, for example.

“It still seems like a lot, but the fact that it’s going down is good,” Saisi said. “Also the number of students involved is basically the same, so they’re not repeating it a second time. It’s kind of a one-and-done.”

Saisi reported 23 bullying incidents involving 22 students this year, compared to 18 incidents involving 17 students in the 2023 period. Saisi again noted that there were similar numbers of students and incidents.

“The students are not repeating,” he said. “Any kind of work the school is doing with the student is working.”

The number of reports on the district’s online bullying complaint form was down from 12 over the entire 2022-23 school year to four so far this year. However, Saisi acknowledged that the district has not publicized the existence of the form very well.

“That’s something we could do better,” he said.

Saisi said 16 students were involved in fights this year, down from 38 for the same period last year.

Twenty-two students were involved in “lower level” conflicts such as insults or pushing this year, down from 36.

In the “hate speech” category, Saisi only had data for this year. He reported 41 general incidents such as slurs not expressed at a specific student or staff member. Six incidents were directed at a specific person.

In response to a question from trustee Chandre Alexander, Saisi said the hate speech incidents were reported by students or staff and logged into an online record by administrators.

Trustee Abbey Picus said she likes having the specific data rather than hearing vague, “amorphous” reports about “all these fights.”

“I really appreciate the breakdown and the deeper dive,” Picus said. “I really appreciate how seriously you’re taking all these different pieces.”

Saisi said he and other staff have completed a one-page discipline matrix that clarifies the process administrators will take in the event of violations. The matrix starts with restorative practices such as group talks or counseling for first offenders, increasing to stronger actions for repeat offenders.

“I like how it’s evolving,” trustee Diane Gasson said of the discipline matrix. “This one sheet makes it easier for parents to understand what steps we take, depending on what is happening at the school sites.”

Saisi said he is seeking more students and staff to serve on a district cellphone committee. Also needed are more parent volunteers to help oversee middle school lunches and breaks.

“As a former middle school staff member, I know that having even one more adult in the room makes a huge difference,” Saisi said.

Superintendent Tracy Smith said she is pleased with the overall result of the school safety work done by Saisi and the other administrators.

“I’m proud of the progress we’re making in creating welcoming campuses,” Smith said. “It is fostering a strong sense of belonging and leading to improved outcomes for our students.”