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Board debates Joy Roots restorative‑practices training; wellness committee recommends $13,500 funded by Title grants
Summary
The wellness committee recommended a package of Joy Roots professional development for WAMS staff — totaling $13,500 and to be paid from Title II and Title IV funds — while board members pressed for clearer success metrics and contingency plans if the program does not reduce HIB incidents.
BERNARDS TOWNSHIP, N.J. — The board’s wellness committee reported on proposals to continue restorative‑practices training from the consultant Joy Roots and recommended three elements of professional development for WAMS staff and district supervisors totaling $13,500, to be covered by Title II and Title IV funds.
The recommended package included four virtual coaching sessions for 22 already‑trained WAMS staff ($2,000), two district‑wide sessions on an in‑service day (two sessions at $2,000 each), and a two‑day restorative‑practices training for a second cohort of WAMS teachers and district content supervisors (30 attendees; $9,500). The committee recommended proceeding with those three elements for the 2024–25 school year.
Why it matters: The training is framed as a proactive approach to reduce HIB incidents related to biased language and to expand restorative practices at the middle school level. Board members questioned the evidence of effectiveness, the plan for training‑the‑trainer, and what alternate disciplinary or data plans would look like if the training does not produce measurable results.
Discussion highlights
- Cost and funding: Committee members said the total cost for the remaining training work this year is $13,500 and that the expense will be covered by Title II and Title IV federal funds allocated for professional development.
- Training design: The plan includes coaching “office hours” for staff who have already completed initial sessions, a district in‑service day component, and a larger two‑day training for an additional cohort so the district can expand its cadre of trainers over time. The committee’s stated goal is a train‑the‑trainer model by next school year.
- Data and evaluation: Several board members (including Keith and Dave) urged the administration to provide clearer success metrics and data before expanding the program further. Staff said teachers are keeping implementation logs and Panorama survey results (which include school climate and start‑time responses) will be provided to the committee; counselors are also using restorative techniques and providing anecdotal feedback.
- Alternatives and backup plans: Some board members raised concerns about relying on consultant training indefinitely and suggested that, if the program fails to show measurable results, the district should consider alternative approaches such as changes to progressive‑discipline practices. The board emphasized the need for concrete metrics tied to the goal of reducing racially or bias‑motivated HIB incidents.
Selected attributions
- Janice (wellness committee) summarized the three proposals and the committee recommendation to proceed with the virtual coaching sessions, the Feb. 26 in‑service components and the two‑day restorative training for the second cohort; she stated the total cost as $13,500 and identified Title II and Title IV as the funding sources.
- Keith urged caution and asked for a “plan B” if results are not demonstrated; he expressed concern about ongoing consultant costs and the opportunity cost of staff time.
- Debbie Marcus (public commenter) recommended the district consider involving school psychologists in training and urged defining outcome measures before proceeding further.
- Board members and staff said anecdotal and early observational data exist: trained WAMS teachers report increased student participation in circles, counselors report positive feedback, and the district will receive a Panorama executive summary and ongoing teacher logs to inform next steps.
What the board decided and next steps
At this meeting the wellness committee recommended the $13,500 package and staff presented the plan and initial data collection methods; the transcript does not record a separate, standalone board vote to obligate funds beyond the committee recommendation. The administration said it will continue collecting Panorama survey results, teacher logs, and counselor observations and return to the committee with additional data and recommendations about whether to expand the program districtwide.
Ending note
Board members agreed on the importance of pairing training with measurable success criteria and emphasized the district’s responsibility to consider both proactive restorative strategies and appropriate disciplinary responses if the interventions do not reduce HIB incidents as intended.
