Richland Two committee reviews student-services expansion, BTAM training and plans to revise discipline matrix

The Richland Two Alternative Pathways Committee met June 23 and heard updates on district student-services work, a recent behavior-threat assessment refresher and plans to revise the district discipline and bus-discipline matrices before the start of school.

Mr. Sherman (committee presenter) opened the meeting and, after the agenda was approved on a motion by Mr. Sherman and a second from Miss Morrison, summarized several student‑services initiatives. He said the district shifted its annual recognition from a single Learning Support Services (LSS) staff member to an LSS team — Lake Caroline Upper — to highlight cross‑disciplinary work among social workers, school counselors, school psychologists and nurses.

On safety training, presenters said the district conducted a BTAM (behavior threat assessment and management) refresher in the second week of June that trained every administrator in Richland Two and included scenario exercises and table discussions. "We can confidently say that every school team is up to speed," a presenter said, and the district plans ongoing refreshers and windows for new staff training.

The committee also heard that the Family Intervention Services (FIS) team based at Pinnacle Point operates six counselors and hosted 18 counseling interns this year from local colleges — described as both a service expansion and a recruiting pipeline for the district.

Presenters reported a new state grant partnership with RACK that placed one of RACK's counselors at Richland Two this year; that counselor is assigned to Blackwood Academy in year one with plans to expand the placement next year to extend substance‑abuse and reintegration supports.

Staff described a three‑week extended‑year summer opportunity (SEO) for middle‑school students at Blackwood Academy pairing social‑emotional learning with academic support for students who needed to pass courses. The presenters said the SEO was funded by a grant and that funds are available again next summer.

Committee members reviewed findings from site visits to other districts' alternative settings. Miss Hudson described positive practices observed at a Kershaw continuous‑learning center — including layered interventions, data‑informed progress monitoring, a positive referral system that highlights student successes, strong community partnerships and targeted professional development for alternative‑setting staff. Presenters suggested adopting several practices that aligned with Blackwood Academy's mission and vision.

Facility planning and operations were raised in questions about Pinnacle Point’s planned move to the Spears Creek facility. Presenters said phase one of Spears Creek is expected to be operational by about this time next year and could house special services, parts of operations and a law‑enforcement hub; they cautioned that moving additional programs such as Blackwood Academy would be phased and contingent on funding and operational planning.

On school climate, presenters summarized an "Upbeat" barometer and staff survey for Blackwood Academy showing strong teacher collaboration and trust metrics on some measures but notable gaps between instructional staff and support staff in others. Presenters said the district will use those data to target supports.

For next steps, staff told the committee they will revise the district discipline matrix — separating elementary, middle and high bands to reduce confusion and improve consistency — and update the bus‑discipline matrix during July. They will prepare a year‑review discipline data dive (including bus incidents) and bring draft revisions to the committee near the end of July, with a plan to resume the committee’s regular meeting cadence in August.

With no further business, Mr. Trap adjourned the meeting.