Board hears behavior and mental-health updates, referral process changes and PBIS progress
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Summary
District staff told the board they revised referral thresholds and added maladaptive-data collection to EduClimber, plan a pilot (OSSA) as an alternative to suspension, reported bus-referral reductions, and described improvements in school-based mental-health indicators.
Charlotte County Public Schools presented a consolidated update on behavior management, PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) and school-based mental-health services at the workshop.
District behavior leaders described changes to the referral process intended to emphasize early intervention and family communication. Presenters said staff must make at least one attempt to notify parents before submitting a minor referral and the escalation threshold was adjusted so repeated insubordination is escalated after three documented incidents rather than four. "We are requiring staff to call and communicate with parents when they hit a minor," a presenter said, adding that the method of contact should be recorded.
To streamline evaluations, the district added a maladaptive-data field to EduClimber so behavior specialists and ESE liaisons can access pertinent data in one place without visiting multiple platforms. The PBIS committee reported additional site visits and a planned April walkthrough schedule for schools seeking recognition; district staff said they were invited to present the approach at a state conference.
The district also reported a drop in bus referrals — 781 last year compared with 341 to date this year — and said it is piloting alternatives to out-of-school suspension. The proposed OSSA pilot will require parents and students to attend courses in lieu of suspension, with the goal of keeping students in instructional settings.
On mental-health supports, presenters described resiliency lessons delivered via Compass curriculum and increased visibility for school counselors. District staff said higher-level risk assessments for suicidal intent declined compared with the prior year (from 194 to 128 in the semester comparison provided). "Our goal is to see students gain resiliency skills so they can manage day to day," a mental-health presenter said, and officials stressed that students with the highest needs continue to work with community partners.
Board members asked questions about parent access to minor-referral records and how schools will control visibility; district staff said some features can be controlled at the school level and they plan to gather teacher and support-staff feedback before broader rollout.
The board received the update and moved to subsequent agenda items.