[SchoolMatters] Work session on student behavior management strategies

[Brian Wheeler]

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
This message is not an official communication of the Albemarle County School
Board. SchoolMatters is a private, e-mail newsletter written by Brian
Wheeler, At-Large Member of the Albemarle County School Board.  This
communication authorized by Brian Wheeler for School Board.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

[Want to share some public comments on this message?  See the weblog version
here:
http://schoolmatters.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/04/work_session_on.html ]
 
The Albemarle County School Board is holding a work session this evening on
student behavior issues.  The basis for the discussion will be a set of
reports from the Student Behavior Management Committee which was formed in
the Spring of 2006.  Note: The discussion about the Athletic Training Rule
and drug/alcohol use has been postponed to our May 10, 2007 meeting.  This
evening's meeting should be a very informative session for the public to
observe.  For those following our work in this area, I would encourage you
to download the report and consider providing us feedback at the meeting
during public comment or by e-mail anytime (schoolboard at k12albemarle.org).
 
School Board work session
April 26, 2007, 6:00 PM, County Office Building, Room 320
Public comment will be taken after the work session at around 8:30 PM.
Student Behavior Report:
http://schoolcenter.k12albemarle.org/education/sctemp/1df9995c2f81844e4a627f
f096486953/1177589744/Green_BehMgt4_26_07.pdf
 
For the past couple of years, the School Board has asked that we review our
approach, both as a Board and as a school division, with respect to student
disciplinary matters.  Initially those concerns centered on our disciplinary
hearings (which are closed meetings) and on implementation of restorative
justice practices.  In the aftermath of the numerous underage drinking
arrests last school year, the scope of this staff committee's work was
expanded to consider our overall student behavior management strategies and
procedures, including the Athletic Training Rule and the Student Code of
Conduct.
 
In meetings last June and July, the School Board held discussions with staff
about how to approach this review during the 2006-07 school year.  
See background here:
http://schoolmatters.typepad.com/my_weblog/2006/07/school_board_co.html
That committee's work over the past year is being presented at this work
session.  Here are several important statements to give you a sense for the
committee's work and recommendations:
 
"As a result of its broad research and analysis of Division student
disciplinary and academic data, the committee evaluated student behavior
management strategies that would form an improved continuum of K-12
prevention and intervention services and provide a more systemic response to
the needs of students within their learning community."
 
"The committee wants Albemarle County Public Schools to offer a proactive,
comprehensive management approach to creating a climate of high expectations
that is driven by core values, upholding the philosophy that our schools are
institutions of learning. To ensure our vision that al learners embrace
learning, excel and own their future, we must create a culture where
expectations for student behavior and motivation are high and expectations
are consistent among schools. These expectations must be communicated
clearly and in multiple ways to school staff and families. In a proactive
approach to providing students with support to reach the expectations, we
must also coordinate and partner with community resources, preparing
students to become productive citizens and to creating a culture of hope for
the future."
 
"The committee has looked at two strategies not currently in our schools
that show promise for enhancing our practices with behavior management. The
first is a prevention measure, Restorative Practices and the next is an
intervention strategy, the Second Chance Center. Restorative Practices for
schools has three basic principles: that wrongdoing is a violation of people
and interpersonal relationships, those violations create obligations and the
central obligation is to right the wrong. Instituting a pilot for
Restorative Practices during the 2007-08 school year would require training
for the pilot schools and an implementation plan that would involve staff
and students. The Second Chance Center would be for students who are
suspended more than three days. At the Center they would have the
opportunity to learn skills that would promote better behavioral choices in
school and to continue to make academic progress while out of school on
suspension."
 
Brian Wheeler
 
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Brian Wheeler
 <mailto:bwheeler at albemarlematters.com> bwheeler at albemarlematters.com
 <http://www.wheeleronboard.com/> http://www.wheeleronboard.com
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