(GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga.) — In a story that WSB Radio has been covering, the head of the state’s largest school district has announced some changes its disciplinary policy.

During a school board meeting on Thursday, Gwinnett Schools superintendent Dr. Calvin Watts announced a pause on the ‘restorative practices’ portion of the new disciplinary policy for the rest of the school year. In schools where it’s been effective, teachers can continue to use it, but a full training on it will take place over summer 2023.

Since the policy was implemented at the beginning of the school semester, fights in Gwinnett County schools have jumped by 35%. At Berkmar High School, student Dulce Vega told WSB that her 14-year-old sister was jumped in the girls’ bathroom. “We ended up taking her to the ER, because she said she felt like she was going to pass out.”

She sustained a concussion in the incident, and is scared to return to school. “I wish they would stand up for our kids, and try to make the school a safer place, for all of our kids,” Vega said.

School spokesperson Bernard Watson spoke with WSB anchor Michelle Wright, saying that “We will have a number of community leaders, school leaders, and county leaders on a panel where we will discuss solutions to the problems that are spilling into our school.”

A discipline task force is also going to be reviewing the levels of punishments for students, and assessing if they need to be adjusted, or if new levels need to be added.

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