Office of Communications Sharon L.

Contreras
725 Harrison St. Syracuse, NY 13210 Superintendent of Schools
Phone 3154355800 Fax 3154354015



July 10, 2014

For more information, please contact the Office of Communications at 435-5800.

District Enters Into Agreement with NYS Attorney General
Partners with AG and State Education Department to Focus on Student Discipline
Community Support and Involvement Key

The Syracuse City School District has entered into a comprehensive agreement with the New York State Attorney
General which seeks to address key elements of how discipline is handled in the District. The Board of Education
approved the agreement, with President Michelle Mignano and Superintendent Sharon L. Contreras executing the
agreement on behalf of the District.

The Board of Education takes very seriously the findings of the NYS Attorney Generals Office regarding discipline
in the District, and is putting into place numerous initiatives to significantly reduce harmful, exclusionary practices,
said Board of Education President Mignano. We believe the District is making progress, and we are dedicated to
working together with the Attorney General and the entire Syracuse community to ensure our students receive the
education to which they are entitled in a safe and supportive environment, Mignano added.

The Attorney Generals findings were largely consistent with two reports commissioned by the District in the spring
of 2013 and fall of 2014. Since then, the District has taken purposeful steps to suspend fewer children for
insubordination and non-violent behavior and is providing teachers with additional tools and support to manage
discipline in the classroom. A new Code of Conduct has been developed for the District with substantial input from
teachers, administrators, parents and community members. This new Code of Conduct sets clearer expectations
for student behavior and better defines interventions and consequences for Code infractions, said Superintendent
Contreras. It is focused on creating an environment of restorative justice where students are actively engaged in
taking responsibility for their behavior and staff is equipped to facilitate that process, added Contreras.

It is critical that every child in our state has access to a quality education, and the use of zero-tolerance policies
by school districts deprives them of that basic right, Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman said. My office is
committed to protecting New Yorks students by ensuring that districts adopt proven disciplinary policies
conducive to a safe and effective learning environment. I applaud the Syracuse School District School Board and
Superintendent Sharon L. Contreras for taking steps that will help eliminate the school-to-prison pipeline and
expand the pathway to opportunity.
A major focus of the effort will be to dramatically improve processes and procedures within the district. Emphasis
will be placed on ensuring due process for all students and improving parental communication and engagement.
Improved data collection will allow the District to measure progress of student behavior and compare it to prior
years. We know we have a lot of work to do, but we are fully committed and resolved to that effort, said
Superintendent Contreras.

The Board of Education and Superintendent have repeatedly stated that violent behavior is never acceptable in the
District. We are allocating substantial resources to provide social-emotional supports for students and
professional development for teachers to deal with discipline and school safety, said President Mignano. We
remain united in our commitment to providing a safe learning environment for all students and staff.
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