Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Behavior topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Rock Hill Schools outlines five-element behavior and student support model; partial rollout Jan. 2026
Summary
District leaders presented a comprehensive behavior and student support model with a five-part framework and an advisory committee of 35; high school discipline matrices are slated for partial implementation in January 2026 and full district rollout in 2627.
Assistant Superintendent Martin Connor explained the origins of the comprehensive behavior and student support model and said the district convened an advisory committee and subcommittees to design a consistent approach to discipline and interventions.
Frank Palermo, director of behavior supports, described five core elements: school and classroom management, student interventions, positive behavior supports, parent and community engagement, and a district discipline matrix aligned to the code of conduct. Palermo said the advisory committee includes 35 members from district staff, parents, students and community stakeholders and has produced an initial framework; the high‑school discipline matrix will be implemented in January 2026 with full implementation at the start of the 2627 school year.
Palermo and Connor said the rollout includes an assessment and revision phase (October–November), training for stakeholders in January, stakeholder distribution by May and summer focus on implementation. Training, progress monitoring and supervisory follow‑up were cited as the primary mechanisms for addressing any staff noncompliance with the matrix; principals and supervisors will be responsible for corrective steps.
On the role of school resource officers, Connor said criminal incidents are handled by law enforcement: "When it comes to a criminal offense in the school, the police officers have the first call of order for what happens," and school leaders take a secondary role in those investigations. During discussion a board member (Speaker 8) cautioned against over-criminalizing student behavior, saying, "The pipeline of prison is real." Administrators said they will continue to engage SROs in implementation conversations to define when arrests or law‑enforcement response are appropriate.
Trustees asked that the district run the initial drafts through principals and stakeholders and return with feedback after a month or two of implementation. Board members also suggested the district avoid creating burdensome paperwork for teachers and to ensure interventions are timely and developmentally appropriate.
