Van Duyn Elementary School (Syracuse, New York) implemented a site-based project to develop student character. The neighborhood is a racially mixed, stable, private home community with 58 percent of students eligible for free or reduced price lunches. The school's objectives as part of a shared decision making, pilot school process were to have staff, students, and parents trained in mediation through the "New Justice Conflict Resolution Program" and to review, develop, and implement "Discipline with Dignity" and "CARE" to improve students' respect for themselves and others. "CARE" stands for courtesy for all people; achievement in the learning environment; respect for property and self; and environment: keep it safe for everyone. The "New Justice" component included training in conflict prevention and intervention for teachers and students through inservice programs and workshops, respectively. "Discipline with Dignity" is a program specifically designed for school settings and is based on the basic tenet that discipline can be a win-win proposition for students. Program results were difficult to assess but suspensions in 1993 were 270, 277 in 1994, and 253 in 1995. However, when student discipline referral data was disaggregated according to type of offense, the declining trend became inconsistent. In addition, significant leadership instability (two new principals and three new assistant principals in 3 years) may have had an impact of the program's effectiveness. (JB)