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District says major referrals are down; staff to focus on minor behaviors and mental‑health framework
Summary
Director of student services Emily Maestrand reported that most students had 0–1 major referrals and described plans to emphasize early classroom interventions and expand school‑based mental health and substance‑use prevention supports.
Emily Maestrand, director of student services for West Bend Joint School District No. 1, told the board the district met its multi‑year goals for reducing major referrals and will now shift focus to lower‑level classroom behaviors and mental‑health supports.
"One of our consistent goals is that 85% or more of our students have 0 to 1 major referral," Maestrand said, explaining the district’s distinction between minor behaviors (handled in the classroom) and major behaviors (requiring administrative intervention).
Nut graf: Maestrand said districtwide data show a large majority of students meet behavioral expectations and that the district will target classroom‑level prevention and expand the school‑based mental health framework, including substance‑use prevention and counseling navigation.
Maestrand summarized year‑end outcomes: nearly all students had zero incidents of fighting and more than 96 percent consistently followed directions; roughly 92 percent had 0–1 major personal‑technology violations. She credited consistent expectations, new disciplinary rubrics, and earlier interventions for the decline in repeat major behaviors.
The district will continue to implement and refine disciplinary rubrics, hold data reviews this summer with building leaders, and bolster family engagement. Maestrand said the district plans to dig deeper into minor behaviors next year to improve classroom environments and will expand access to mental‑health services through roles such as the mental‑health navigator.
Board members asked whether the higher referral counts at Badger Middle School reflect age‑related behavior, a new principal re‑norming expectations, or enforcement effects. Maestrand replied that both cohort and leadership change can affect trends and noted recent improvements at Badger.
Ending: Maestrand said the district will continue monitoring data and refine strategies to prevent escalation from classroom misbehavior to major referrals, while increasing supports for student mental health.
