Members of the Superior Board of Education challenged the effectiveness of the PBiS program during the opening of the regular monthly meeting Monday evening. Jodi Fierstein, elementary principal, gave an overview of the program and distributed the elementary staff PBiS handbook.
The PBiS mission is to create a positive learning environment for all staff and students by forging relationships, defining expectations, acknowledging expectations, analyzing data and responding to problem behaviors.
She reviewed each quarter’s data from the elementary school. Second quarter there were 65 incidences involving 23 students (meaning inappropriate behavior resulting in a student being sent to the principal’s office.” Third quarter there were 53 incidences involving more than 20 students, fourth quarter there have been 17 incidences involving 14 students.
“This quarter there have been no repeat offenders,” she said.
When asked what changed in the fourth quarter, she said, “Lots of factors I cannot speak about in a setting like this.” She indicated the numbers are so small that many people would know which students were involved if she talked about it in a public setting.
Later she added, “I hate to blame everything on COVID, but you need to remember that for most of two years our kindergarten and first grade students did not get to go to birthday parties, to the swimming pool, to the grocery store, hang out together at the park, to church… many of the place they learn basic social skills. They have been a special challenge and are doing much better.”
Discussion indicated middle school students have also been especially challenging this year.
One of the questions asked was “If PBiS is working, why are we still having trouble at the middle school level?”
Allison White, secondary music instructor, serves on the middle school and high school PBiS team. She reported the same program with some different wording is used. Incentives change however. The team focused on tardiness this year and has seen a dramatic decline in the number of students being tardy for the beginning of school and for classes during the day.
Problems identified at the secondary level included consistency from room to room and the need for more communication between staff, issues administrators hope to address next school year.
Board members expressed a need for harsher punishment sooner. At least three of them indicated they did not think PBiS is working.
There was much debate on the changing times, consequences and rewards and a consensus that what works for one student does not necessarily work for another. Also there was concern expressed regarding the classroom disruption a few students cause that takes the majority of an instructor’s time and a general lack of respect.
Bob Cook, secondary principal, acknowledged PBiS is “still a work in progress.”
He also said, “ I would not blame a lack of respect on PBiS. It is everywhere. Look at the governor’s race in Nebraska and what they say to each other, the actions of professional athletes, TikTok. For our students the lack of respect is all around them and it is the last thing they think about.”
Supt. Kobza said, “There are plans in place for 8 to 10 secondary students to be part of alternative school which we will offered off campus next year. They will use Acellus which is an accredited online school for grades K-12.”
“In previous schools where I worked, 75 percent of these students will make it. It will be good for them as well as the other students,” he said.
In other business, the board approved April expenditures from the general fund in the amount of $627,812.21 and offered four certified contracts.
Samantha Trauernicht will be responsible for the elementary resource room and be an elementary special education instructor. Her husband is currently employed by the City of Superior. She holds a bachelor of science degree in K-6 special education from Peru State College and a master of arts in education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
Cori Sheff will also work with elementary special education and life skills. She comes with 17 years of special education experience in California. She had family in the Hebron area and is returning to the Midwest.
Jessica Diehl will be both a certified and a classified employee for the district. She will be .625 full-time as a business teacher and will teach personal finance. She will also help with reading intervention. She is a skilled volleyball coach and most recently has been the head volleyball coach at Blue Hill. Her volleyball coaching experience includes being a head volleyball coach at Giltner High School, an assistant coach at Hastings Catholic Schools, assistant coach at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, and a club coach for Salina juniors, Giltner juniors, Queen City juniors and South Central juniors.
Brenda Corman has a degree in agronomy and will be .5 full time equivalent ag instructor. Seth Going will continue as an ag instructor, but will also be responsible for the wood related course so the carpentry program can continue. Corman does not have a teaching degree, but she comes with a career certificate which requires an instructor to have worked in the industry at least five years. She has been a seed sales agronomist for Monsanto in the Hastings area and a production agronomist for DuPont Pioneer in Illinois and Iowa.
The board established student breakfast and lunch prices at the following rates:$1.25 for breakfast and $2.75 for kindergarten through fifth grade lunch. Middle school and secondary lunch will be $2.90. Adult breakfast will be $2.25 and lunch will be $4. Supt. Kobza said, “It looks like we will return to paid meals.”
The board reviewed several policies and expects to develop a new policy to address technology use when on a bus especially after dark. Jason Jensen, a board member, who also serves as an activity bus driver, reported the misuse of cell phone flash- lights can be a safety issue.
Fierstein reviewed the elementary MAP testing data. Seventy-three percent of the third through fifth grade students demonstrated high growth, high achievement or both in reading, math, language usage and science; 37 percent demonstrated high growth and high achievement, 62 percent demonstrated high achievement and 50 percent demonstrated high growth.
Supt. Kobza said, “Those are very exciting numbers.”
Fierstien also reported summer “Kids Club” will meet Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. the weeks of June 13, 20, 27 and July 11 and 18. Additional reading and math intervention will be provided by classroom teachers for students who attend and are below benchmark on Acadience or MAP testing.
Cook reviewed projected enrollment figures for next school year. He expects enrollment to remain stable for the middle and secondary level with 29 sixth grade students, 29 seventh grade, 21 eighth grade, 38 freshmen, 30 sophomores, 28 juniors and 39 seniors.
Supt. Kobza reported that roof repair is scheduled for the summer. He told the board not to be concerned when a budget change is published in the newspaper. The money for roof repair is currently in the special building fund budget and the school received notification from the state that it must be paid for from the qualified capital purpose fund so the budget must be republished.
Early in the meeting, Dana Henry was recognized as the elementary teacher of the quarter and Mel Rempe was recognized as the secondary teacher of the quarter.
Several FFA members reviewed the chapter’s most recent activities including career day, their honors banquet, the state convention and plant sales. Bret Tomas, instructor, thanked the board for their support.
The meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m.
Reader Comments(0)