The number of student suspensions within Madera Unified School District increased by almost 1,000 last year over the 2010-11 school year, according to a report given by Paul Van Loon, Director of Special Services/Student Services. In the 2010-11 school year, 1,697 students were suspended, whereas, 2,633 in 2011-12 were suspended.
Van Loon would not speculate as to the reason for the increase but did note that infractions involving marijuana are on the rise.
Van Loon said students may be suspended after a due-process hearing for up to five days for minor infractions of school rules. Major infractions, which violate the Education Code, result in expulsions, after which the offending students may not return to MUSD.
Van Loon's report was given Tuesday evening at a meeting of MUSD trustees. He presented a detailed, statistical analysis of the district’s suspension data by race and ethnicity over the past three years...