Pottsgrove board approves outside reviews, hears staff and parents after behavior spikes at Ringing Rocks Elementary

The Pottsgrove School District Board of School Directors on Oct. 15 heard extensive presentations and public comment about repeated disruptive behavior at Ringing Rocks Elementary School and approved two outside reviews of the district’s special-education and safety practices.

District staff said the large majority of students at Ringing Rocks do not generate discipline referrals but a small group of high‑need students is driving most incidents, and administrators outlined staffing, training and program changes intended to reduce disruptions.

Dr. Ann Marie Lucas, the district’s director of pupil services, told the board that referral data for Ringing Rocks show more than about 88% of students have zero disciplinary referrals; about 8% had one to five referrals and roughly 3.6% of incidents represent higher‑frequency referrals. Lucas said the school is using the Multi‑Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) frameworks and has expanded trauma‑informed training, counseling contracts and a districtwide set of sensory rooms.

"Safety care is something that's out there nationally," Lucas said, describing a training model the district has begun to scale. She said about 12 staff at Ringing Rocks completed an initial SafetyCare training in early September and the district plans an all‑day follow‑up session on Nov. 4 to expand that work.

Principal Stephanie Myers said staff used an Act 80 staff collaboration day to form working committees that quickly changed recess supervision patterns, strengthened communication and created a reflection room where students can be guided through restorative practices before returning to class. "Collaboration is huge," Myers said.

Montgomery County Department of Public Safety school safety specialists Carly Duco and Dr. Beth Sanborn presented the results of two days of on‑site observation and policy review.…