The Rockford School Board gets a briefing on which students are getting in trouble in the district.
About 40 students were expelled first semester 2007. That's down from the year before. But suspensions are up by close to three-thousand students.
This year kids were most often expelled for weapon use and African American students have by far the highest rates of expulsion and suspension.
But adminstrators are highlighting the successes of programs like Fresh Start, Roosevelt Alternative High School and the Freshman Foundations. They're also considering starting an alternative middle school and will start special after school programs at West Middle School next year.
"We've seen a lot of things put in place this year that we're hoping to see some real results from. Additional after school programs to, not only help them academically, but being sure that they're if they have a detention that they get to that," says board president Nancy Kalchbrenner.
The presentation broke discipline data down by school as well as race and gender. West Middle School and Jefferson High School had the most significant increases in discipline problems, especially involving fighting.

Parents and community members stood up at Tuesday nights meeting as they have at several in the past to speak out on what they see as the lack of minority role models in the Rockford school district.

Parents and community members spoke out again last night on what they see as the lack of minority role models in the rockford school district.
The protests stem from the firing of Jefferson principal Kenneth Jackson. But protesters say their concerns go beyond that to an overall lack of diversity. Tonight a district administrator presented the plan to actively recruit minority teachers..principals and administrators. The process includes recruiting at univeristies...Particulary historically black institutions and community colleges to appeal to students who haven't yet chosen a major. Administrators also want to job advertise in minority journals...Call churches with minority congregations ...And create a separate budget line for minority recruitment. But some community members are disappointed they weren't involved in developing the plan.

"We're recruiting many African American administrators but we're not retaining them.this is the reason why we're so upset that we're losing Dr.Jackson, because the administration hasn't shown a willingness to keep the leaders that best speak for our community concerns." says Yahcolyah Muhammad, a Jackson Supporter
Board member Mike Williams adds, "There needs to be this dialogue within HR and within our community to provide support to those minorities who are moving here from outside this community."

Board members also held off on a decision on whether to raise or waive student fees for next year. The fees would apply to activities like drama..music instrument rentals and drivers education. And the process for finding a permanent superintendent is moving ahead, as board members narrow the field of search firms they're choosing from to help find a district leader.