Board approves managing aggressive behavior training schedule and refreshed cycles

Donna Osborne, incoming director of alternative learning, presented the district’s Managing Aggressive Behavior (MAB) training plan for the 2026–27 school year. Osborne said the plan requires relevant Derby Public School staff to receive days 1 and 2 of MAB training as part of onboarding when applicable, and that critical-response team members (principals, assistants, security, social workers and categorical program staff) will take a full-day refresher covering days 1 and 2 every two years.

Osborne said administrators will follow a four-year refresher cycle and other related staff will receive a full day refresher of day-1 training every four years. She said MAB trainer updates will be handled through the National Resource Center for Youth Services and that, to support budget efficiency, most training will be offered in summer sessions with limited availability during the school year. Osborne asked for board approval of the revised refresher cycles and the board approved the plan 7-0.

Board members asked that the district continue to publicly clarify what MAB covers and to emphasize that seclusion is a last resort and that MAB is used with students who present significant, potentially dangerous behaviors. Osborne, who said she will officially start June 15 as director of alternative learning, agreed to provide more public-facing information about MAB and how it is applied.