By james art 
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Wash. (WVIR) – Two proposed bills in the Virginia General Assembly would put $2 million in state funding to use restorative justice in schools across the state.
It is an alternative conflict resolution method already used in Charlottesville City Schools. Those who tried it in practice said it offered alternative paths to growth for students and staff.
“We have a major problem in schools where schools act as a funnel for a lot of kids to end up in the criminal system,” said Tarek Massarani, who works with schools to help students, teachers and staff employ restorative justice practices . “We need solutions that actually get attention and care.”
Massarani believes restorative justice is that solution.
“At CCS, we implement it in a variety of ways,” said CCS Restorative Justice and Education Coordinator Bianca Johnson. “Talk about things like using effective statements and questions about how to have a quick impromptu conversation before things escalate.”
Johnson said she has witnessed the transformative power of restorative justice, which she says helps students build vital interpersonal skills often left out of the curriculum.
However, she said it takes time to work.
“It’s really, at the very least, I’d say a four- to five-year school commitment,” Massarani said.
Short timeframes are Johnson and Massarani’s primary concern with the proposed restorative schools in Virginia’s pilot program.
“This is a bill that still needs a lot of time with a lot of people before a decision is made,” Johnson said.
They said it needed more time and commitment from everyone involved.
“With the resources and the time allocation that goes with it, you can’t expect employees who are already committed to take on another program,” Massarani said, “especially one that’s as intensive and standing, with no additional staff or money coming in Support this change. “
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