CPS parents concerned over alleged discipline disparity at Fairview German Language School
By Daisy Kershaw
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CINCINNATI (WLWT) — Parents at Fairview German Language School are calling on Cincinnati Public School leaders to take action over concerns about racial disparities when it comes to disciplining students.
At a school board meeting Monday, dozens of concerned parents spoke up about the issue, now demanding an internal investigation into the “conduct and leadership” at Fairview.
In a letter, those behind the efforts wrote that they believe the school has breached 24 board policies, 11 Ohio State Laws and five federal regulations.
It comes after new data was released by PBIS, or Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports.
“The data revealed that African Americans as well as boys are being disciplined at a higher rate than other students,” said Sonya Swift, chair of the School Decision Making Committee for Fairview.
Fairview mom Chelsea O’Neal said the issue hits close to home.
On May 21, she says her second-grade son was accused of inserting himself in a fight at school and given a one-day out-of-school suspension.
O’Neal said it came as a shock because he has no history of violence or aggression, so she requested video of the incident.
“The video footage didn’t depict that at all; the students were playing soccer,” O’Neal said.
She said that this prompted her to dig into the school’s code of conduct policies.
“I learned that it was completely out of order for my son to receive an out-of-school suspension,” O’Neal said. “For students pre-K through second grade, there are restorative programs to prevent them from being taken out of school. Suspension is a disciplinary action of the most severe cases. Generally, for students who are removed by law, also who are evaluated by a mental professional hired by the CPS district.”
O’Neal, among those now calling for change.
“There’s many more stories like Chelsea where that has happened in that building. And we just want leadership to take accountability and address these concerns,” Swift said.
Swift said they are waiting on a response from the CPS superintendent and have been told they’ll hear back by the end of the month.
In a statement to WLWT on Monday, CPS said “Cincinnati Public Schools is aware of concerns raised by some members of the Fairview German Language School community. We take all concerns regarding student support, school culture and compliance with District policies seriously. We are working with the school’s leadership and families to resolve these concerns.”
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