Suspensions, expulsions down in Burbank Unified schools

There were 456 students suspended from Burbank schools during the 2014-15 school year, down from 766 in 2011-12, in what is an ongoing trend of fewer suspensions occurring in Burbank Unified each year — and in schools across the state.

Expulsions are also decreasing in Burbank schools — three occurred during the 2014-15 school year compared to 16 during the 2011-12 school year, according to the data released by state officials last month.

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Burbank Unified Supt. Matt Hill said he expects that the rates will continue to decline, particularly with the hiring of additional staff this year, including intervention specialists, who make themselves visible to students on playgrounds and elsewhere on campuses.

“It’s about making those connections proactively and addressing concerns before they become suspensions. They’re building those mentor relationships,” Hill said. “We’re starting to see [students] proactively going to them as a trusted adult on campus.”

Overall, Burbank Unified’s 2.4% suspension rate is below the state’s 3.8% rate.

John Burroughs High School had nearly 50 more suspensions during last school year compared to Burbank High, according to the data.

While Burroughs High reported 124 students who were suspended during the 2014-15 school year, there were 77 suspensions at Burbank High.

Of the three expulsions that occurred in Burbank Unified last school year, one student was expelled from Burbank High School, another was expelled from John Muir Middle School and the third expulsion occurred at Burbank’s community day school.

Among the middle schools, John Muir Middle School reported 62 suspensions, followed by Luther Burbank and David Starr Jordan middle schools — each suspending 54 students, according to the data.

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Kelly Corrigan, kelly.corrigan@latimes.com

Twitter: @kellymcorrigan