Tooele board approves district positive‑behavior plans tied to state funding and reporting

Julie Spindler, the district’s prevention and youth‑in‑care supervisor, presented the district’s positive behavior plans (PBIS) required under state law. Spindler said the plans were originally prompted by concerns about e‑cigarette use and now address substances, mental‑health programming and schoolwide prevention strategies. Principals wrote plans in September and submitted them in October; once board approval is recorded the associated funding is released to school accounts for PBIS strategies.

Spindler reviewed code requirements for reporting and noted districts must notify school administrators when violations occur; repeat incidents can involve SROs or law enforcement. She described the intended preventative focus and listed curriculum and supports (Second Step, Rethink Ed, CHAMPS, STOIC) that schools may use and said the plans are intended to be proactive rather than punitive.

Board members asked whether state code actually requires board approval of the plans. A board member who had examined the code (Scott) located a provision that supports board involvement and moved to approve the plans for implementation; the motion passed.

Spindler said an annual report will be provided at the end of the year and funding will be available to schools that have submitted approved plans.

The board approved the positive behavior plans as presented and directed staff to move forward with implementation and reporting.