A brief look at Restorative U

Since the beginning of this school year, students have been sent to RU for disciplinary infractions such as fighting or insubordination. Starting in the Spring semester, students who are more than 6 minutes late to class are also sent to RU, and those who arrive at school later than 8:30 go to RU until a guardian contacts the school to excuse the tardy. While in RU, students work with SIs and counselors to resolve any personal, social, or academic issues that may have led to their infractions.

From the start, student attitudes toward the program have been mixed at best. The most common complaints concern its similarity to DRA, an in-school suspension program that was discontinued at the start of the 2018-2019 school year. The administration has faced criticism over allegations of simply rebranding DRA as restorative, rather than implementing truly restorative practices.

People of color are also overrepresented in RU, as well as in other discipline programs at the school. Maurice Hayes, a business owner and ex-felon living in Champaign, believes that police action in response to the fights on February 4th is reflective of broader trends towards disproportionately punishing black students.

At the February 5th school board meeting, Hayes commented, “The video earlier had something that said ‘Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream hasn’t been lived yet.’ Those are facts. There’s still systematic racism.”

Jerry Moreland, who helps to run RU, believes that, despite its issues, the program affords staff additional opportunities to mentor students individually.

“The relationship-building between SIs and students, SEAs and students, I think, has shown some success. Of course, based on student need, the work is never done.”

Moreland feels that the administration’s request for a certified teacher and more SIs and SEAs to the Board of Education should be fulfilled.

Regardless of public perceptions of RU or any iniquities inherent in it, the school will likely continue to administer the program for the foreseeable future.