Any program that helps staff spend more time teaching students and less time dealing with behavioral issues is worth investigating and Hugh Flint, White River School District director of student support services, presented the White River School Board with information about the program at its regular meeting Feb. 10.
The Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports program takes a proactive approach to establishing behavior modification to benefit learning.
“It’s not another thing to do,” Flint said. “It’s an integral part of what we do.”
Flint also noted that although the program is in its infancy in Washington state, it has been around, in other parts of the country, since the mid-1990s.
The downside, Flint noted, is there is currently no grant money attached to the program.
In a move to support the program, the board gave the nod for a special education team to attend the upcoming PBIS conference in Corvallis, Ore., to learn more.
In other business, the board:
• celebrated with the White River High School Associated Student Body officers who announced their first-place Spirit Award from the Jostens Leadership Conference Feb. 5.
Last year, the ASB finished fourth. This year, with between 15 and 20 WRHS leadership and ASB kids, they captured the top spot among the 43 schools that participated. The students said it was their enthusiasm and their recycling program that gave them the edge.
• approved the donation of 123 computers valued at more than $24,000 from the Seattle Social Security offices thanks to Wilkeson Elementary School teaher Shauna Perez and $10,000 from the Meisenbachs for the Connections Program.
• announced its next special meeting will be Feb. 24 and its next regular meeting will be March 10. Both begin at 6 p.m. in the board conference room.
• recognized teacher Teri Fleming who earned National Board Certification.
• approved out-of-state travel for White River High School Assistant Principal Lainey Mathews and Principal Mike Hagadone to attend a master schedule building workshop in Stockton, Calif.
• acknowledged Class-ified Employees Week.
• accepted a letter of retirement from teacher Vicky Miller.
• hired Tiffany Iacobazzi as a long-term substitute teacher at Mountain Meadow Elementary.
• approved a leave of absence from Foothills Elementary School teacher Diane Jennings.
During business at its Jan. 27 meeting, the board:
• accepted retirements from teachers Carol Anderson, Virginia Borg, Ellen Hahn, Mary Leonard, Stephanie McBee and Jean Thornton and instructional paraeducator Roberta Craughan and librarian/teacher Michael Pearson.
• accepted instructional paraeducator Sheryl Rice’s resignation.
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