Wednesday, March 19, 2025
'USD 333 Administrators were made aware on January 28, 2025 from court documents that two CHS students were given notice to appear in Cloud County Court for an incident that took place outside of the school day and off school property. The school district does not have access to the investigation as the incident occurred off of school property. Furthermore, the district cooperated with law enforcement's request to not interfere with the investigation, by talking about the case with the victim, victims parents or the accused. USD 333 administration made the decision based on the court notice, on January 28, 2025, with district legal counsel, district policy and KSHSAA regulations to suspend students from participation in sports competitions. The district cannot comment further about details underlying this decision, due to the students' privacy rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. We support our students and student-athletes as they pursue educational and athletic excellence, both individually and as representatives of Concordia Public Schools, and we strive to provide a positive educational environment for our students.
'USD 333 Administration and staff make student safety a priority. USD 333 staff implement documented safety plans for many students across 3 attendance centers to accommodate special circumstances which are needed to separate certain students from each other, while still attending school and meeting the compulsory attendance law. Safety Plans are often initiated with recommendations from law enforcement, DCF, Foster care organizations, or teachers. Safety Plans are collaboratively created with feedback from parents/guardians and staff members. Variables may include schedule alterations, busing alterations, as well as additional supervision from administrators, teachers, paras, and a group of trusted peers who can transport and support the individual throughout their daily activities. These procedures have been followed with fidelity without incident with an amazing group of dedicated faculty.
'Approximately 1,200 students enter three USD 333 attendance centers every day. While we have amazing students and great programs, students will misbehave. We provide active supervision, clear procedures, extra support in common areas, door locks, vape detection and hundreds of cameras indoors and outdoors. We have great staff that care for students and encourage appropriate behavior. We spend thousands of dollars every year training our staff and learning additional strategies to mitigate student behavior, but we still have misbehavior. These misbehaviors come with opportunities for correction. Hundreds of strategies are utilized daily in our classrooms to provide successful classroom management. All discipline assessed to address student conduct is intended to be a corrective action to change the behavior. Discipline actions taken by school personnel to address behavior are a student record, which is protected under Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). This is a personal record that belongs to the student and their parents. By law, the record cannot be shared publicly. This law has been in place since 1974. This doesn't mean that discipline consequences are not given to the student. This means that the discipline consequences that are distributed are protected under (FERPA) and are NOT available to the victim or the public. In the unfortunate situation that law enforcement becomes involved in a school discipline incident, law enforcement leads the investigation process, and due to the extension of the Privacy Act, the school district does not have access to records gained by law enforcement so we are only able to respond to factual information provided on a court document once it is available. Our student discipline actions and responses are always handled swiftly, according to policy and with consultation from our legal counsel, and with KSHSAA guidance when school activities are involved.
'Please support our Administration, School Board, Staff, and law enforcement partners as we are all working together to encourage positive behaviors in our youth.'
Quentin Breese, Superintendent
USD 333 Concordia Public Schools
