Students from Pleasant Valley Elementary''s PBIS "Bear Squad" described the school'wide behavior program to the Pleasant Valley School District Board of Education on April 22, outlining expectations, rewards and early results.

The students said the PBIS expectations are summarized as ARR: "being responsible, engage everywhere, act safely, and respect yourself and others," and described how students earn "bear bucks" for meeting those expectations. Rewards range from small items (15 bear bucks for bringing a stuffed animal) to larger experiences (a video game party for 100 bear bucks). Students explained class and individual reward options and said the Bear Den is open Tuesdays through Thursdays for students who meet thresholds.

District staff pointed to preliminary data they said show positive movement since PBIS was implemented. A staff presenter told the board staff survey scores rose for several measures: staff agreement that schoolwide expectations exist rose from 74% to 91%; agreement that expectations are explicitly taught rose from 53% to 72%; consistent buildingwide rewards rose from 45% to 69%; and the item "making decisions based on data" rose from 11% to 87%.

School staff said monthly assemblies, incentives and teacher feedback collected by the building'level SAC (school advisory committee) informed the program and that the school plans to develop alternate lessons and increase parent awareness next school year.

Board members responded with praise. One board member asked students what they had redeemed 20-bear-buck awards for; students described examples such as returning a lost stuffed animal, cleaning the cafeteria and walking safely to buses.

Board discussion and the presentation took place during the meeting's student highlights section, which the district marked as part of the regular agenda.