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Cedar Springs spotlights show new classrooms, playground plans and middle-school engagement programs
Summary
At its Oct. 13 meeting the Cedar Springs Public Schools board heard building updates from Cedar Trails Elementary and Cedar Springs Middle School, including new classroom flooring, a planned playground delivery, expanded counseling and PBIS-driven incentives and an intervention block called Hawk Time.
Cedar Springs Public Schools officials on Oct. 13 updated the board on building-level programs and recent facility improvements at Cedar Trails Elementary and Cedar Springs Middle School.
Cedar Trails representative Scott Harbitter told the board the school completed new classroom flooring over the summer and is preparing for a playground shipment the district expects to install this year. He also said the school is serving about 221 students in tier‑2 academic interventions, with 6–8 week progress‑monitoring cycles, and that evidence‑based literacy instruction (EBLI) is rolling out in first grade with kindergarten scheduled to begin shortly. Harbitter thanked district crews for completing summer work and noted the school added a counselor, Kim Buchek (formerly Kim Davis), to coordinate 504 plans and support students with trauma histories. “Our teachers were super excited to come back,” Harbitter said, and described staff and the mental‑health team rallying after a recent staff death.
At Cedar Springs Middle School, a building representative identified as Ms. McDonald described an emphasis on student‑centered instruction and social‑emotional supports, including a PBIS point system tied to a school store, and a 29‑minute intervention period called Hawk Time at the end of the first hour. She said the school uses monthly data reviews to identify students who need extra supports and has launched a student ambassadors group and peer tutoring programs. “If they’re feeling comfortable, safe, happy, then they’re going to work hard for us and they’re gonna be invested in what they’re doing,” McDonald said.
Board members asked about scheduling for conferences and the PBIS store’s popularity; McDonald said staff are tracking participation and intentionally giving points to students who are not yet engaged. Harbitter said parent‑teacher conferences were scheduled the following days and noted the high level of parent participation across campuses.
The board received the updates as informational items; no board action was required.
