KUSD Expulsions Spike in December, But Trend Not Seen

Feb. 9, 2020 11a

(WGTD)---A big spike in expulsions in Kenosha Unified occurred late last year. But the district doesn’t see it as a trend.

About a dozen students were expelled for a variety of reasons that for the most part weren’t connected, according to Beth Ormseth, principal at LakeView Technology Academy and a member of the district’s administrative review team. "Obviously the school district doesn't want to expel students or suspend students," Ormseth said. "Basically we want to ensure that our classroooms are safe and have that positive learning environment," she said. 

According to numbers from the district, 16 students have been expelled so far this school year. For all of the 2018/2019 school year, just 9 were kicked out.

Ormseth says December’s high number was a coincidence, and she doesn’t see many potential expulsions in the pipeline in the coming weeks and months.  

Expulsions are viewed as a last-resort option after earlier interventions fail.

Expulsion is not necessarily the end of a student’s involvement in Kenosha Unified. An e-school option is often times offered, as is to a lesser extent enrollment in Hillcrest, a specialty alternative learning school, according to Ormseth. 

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