Nan Parson commenced the meeting at 7:06pm.
The purpose of this meeting was to learn about the implementation of restorative practices in schools, which is a philosophy and approach to building community, developing relationships, and repairing harm when incidents occur within the school setting. This is the third in a series following the increase in youth misbehavior in the Uptown area.
Alissa Goldwasser introduced the speakers.
Speakers:
- Kyleen Coia - Associate Principal for Student and Family Services at Maine South (4 years)
- Nelly Diaz - Assistant Principal for Student Supports at Maine East (19 years)
Modeled the first part to restorative practices in groups:
- Connection Question #1 - Choose a weather report to describe how you’re feeling today: The point is to have a minimal, low risk activity, so staff can assess and obtain a pulse on the room (who is participating, who is not)
- Connection Question #2 - Rate knowledge/experience (1-5) of restorative practices
Why revisit disciplinary practices?
- After COVID, the return from at home learning brought about mental and physical behavioral health challenges
- Senate Bill 100 changed how schools are approaching discipline. Schools can no longer expel students but must intervene in a way that will help students understand behavior and effect change.
- The importance of relationships - as a community we should understand how harm impacts one another and how we can co-exist respectfully
Restorative Practices (RP) - What is it and why?
- Humans need meaningful relationships to thrive.
- RP is the science behind relationships and community.
- Gives a voice to everyone.
- Has roots in Indigenous cultures and philosophies.
Taking it to scale - how does this actually look?
- Outside organization trains specific staff who then train more staff. Then ongoing training (which includes check ins after initial training).
- School wide efforts - Modeled by staff, used by students in Advisory and Health & Wellness, revisit disciplinary responses (can RP be used after an incident?)
- By setting foundations and expectations, kids do take part because they’re well prepared. It is woven into the fabric of the school.
- Tiers: 1 Universal/Whole school - Reaffirm relationships through developing social and emotional skills.
- 2 Targeted chat - repairing relationships.
- 3 Intensive (structured with preparation/planning) - rebuilding relationships.
- Emphasize shared values and separate the deed from the do-er.
Questions were asked throughout the presentation about how using Restorative Practices actually works. Some examples are:
- Q. Are parents involved?
- A. Ideally, yes; but this isn’t always possible. Parents are always informed of RP group activities, especially when harm has occurred.
- Q When are RP used?
- A. Sometimes a class will start with a RP activity, or a one-on-one can happen at any time. Interventions depend on the situation
- Q Can the Assistant Principals and others who are trained in RP work outside of the school setting so that RP can be used in the community?
- A. Those, who are Restorative Practitioners, are willing and able to train others in and out of schools. For example, they may work with Maine Stay or the Police Department.
There was hope expressed that Restorative Practices can be used more broadly throughout our community.
We also heard about the ways that the Big Brother/Big Sister Program (BBBS) helps youth in Lake County.
Nan Parson introduced the speaker.
Speaker:
- Dawn Steffen - Director of Big Brother/Big Sister Organization of Lake County
BBBS create and support 1 to 1 mentoring for 7-18 year olds facing adversity. Two main programs:
- “Bigs” individually take their “Littles” out for an activity or support day to day
- Site based program where several “Bigs” and “Littles” meet at a site for games and pre-planned activities
There is a Des Plaines site at the District 63 Resource Center. Volunteers are always needed.
The meeting concluded with announcements:
- Book Club is reading Me:Moth and meeting March, 18th at 7:00pm in the Parlor of the Community Church.
- The voting committee registered 410 high school students from Maine South, Maine East, Maine West. Information about voting is available in the Action Ridge Update, which comes out each Wednesday.
- Zoom links are available to watch The Governor’s Task Force on Alternative Methods of Voting, which examined the voting systems in Illinois. Ranked Choice Voting is gaining support in Illinois.
- Park Ridge is in the final stages of creating an affordable housing plan that will be filed with the state. The Affordable Housing Committee is advocating for a mandatory Inclusionary Zoning policy. There is also traction gaining to create affordable housing specifically for seniors. The public hearing is March 18th at City Hall. The final Reading on April 1st.
- Welcomed Val who is now the Education Lead and will keep us up to date on District 64
The meeting was adjourned at 8:50pm
Respectfully submitted by Molly Phalin and Nan Parson
