A local principal says the problems we chronicled in a recent article about a gap between expulsion rules at San Diego Unified and some of its charter schools have only continued, with no sign of any change.
The discipline gap has proved frustrating for Principal Michael Dodson at Bell Middle School, because troublesome students end up enrolling midyear at Bell after charters toss them out. Ordinarily, expelled students go to special alternative schools, not another regular school.
But because San Diego Unified didn't agree that the students who were ousted from charter schools should have been expelled, they were allowed to enroll at Bell just like any other student. Dodson said he was frustrated because a mid-year influx of students with behavior problems made it difficult for Bell to build up an orderly school culture.
There was a glimmer of hope for Dodson and other frustrated principals in March: Interim Superintendent Bill Kowba had pledged to bring together charter schools and district schools to