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Bunger Middle School crediting students with 1,600 'positive referrals' and falling suspensions
Summary
Bunger Middle School administrators described a PBIS-inspired 'positive referrals' system entered through Infinite Campus that produced about 1,600 positive referrals in 2025, increased students in 'tier 1' and reduced suspensions and major referrals compared with 2024 data; trustees praised the program and discussed district-level adoption.
Bunger Middle School principal Zach O’Brien and student-support specialist Mandy Felpouch presented the board with results from a buildingwide positive-referral initiative designed to flip the traditional negative-referral culture.
O’Brien said the school started the system in 2025 and recorded roughly 1,600 positive referrals that year; the program pairs a weekly cafeteria celebration with an automated parent notification and a certificate attached to a logged referral in Infinite Campus. "We had around 1,600 positive referrals," O’Brien said. He said the ratio of positive referrals to major referrals rose sharply (speaker-cited figures showed 1,639 positive referrals to 289 major referrals in 2025 and the current year pacing toward an 18:1 ratio).
Staff reported measurable changes in behavior metrics: major referrals declined (from 404 in 2024 to 289 in 2025, and currently 52 for the year-to-date snapshot presented), suspensions dropped from 19% to 14% in their comparison period, and tier-1 students increased while tier-2 dipped. The school described operational details—student leaders announce names in the cafeteria, staff submit positive referrals under an “award” flag in Infinite Campus, and teachers and noncertified staff participate.
Students addressed the board to describe how positive referrals motivated them; one student said receiving a referral made them feel recognized and confident. Trustees commended the initiative and suggested districtwide promotion of the practice. Principal O’Brien said the program includes tracking spreadsheets so staff can ensure every student receives at least one positive referral over the year.
