Jason Arndt, jarndt@shawanoleader.com
Four area schools recently were recognized for efforts to create safer and more effective schools.
Olga Brener Intermediate School and Hillcrest Primary School in Shawano were honored as Schools of Distinction for their accomplishments in the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program. Olga Brener received the award for the third consecutive year; Hillcrest won it for the second consecutive year.
Menominee Indian High School and Keshena Primary School were each recognized as a School of Merit; Menominee Indian for the third consecutive year and Keshena Primary for the first time.
Statewide, 60 schools were named School of Distinction and 195 received School of Merit awards.
“The approach MIHS and KPS take to teaching appropriate behaviors in school has helped maintain a productive, safe environment in which all school and community members have clear expectations and understandings of their role in the educational process,” Menominee Indian School District Superintendent Wendell Waukau said. “Congratulations to the students, teachers, staff, administration and the community.”
Approximately 51 percent of schools in Wisconsin are involved in the PBIS Network, formed in 2011 to help schools encourage good behavior and choices as a way to improve students’ chances for academic success.
Each school developed expectations for student behavior and ways to track to measure success. Data, including behavior incident reports, is submitted to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction at the end of each academic year.
“Instead of (teachers and faculty) expecting students to know better going into each year, we teach them how to be respectful,” said Karen Smith, Olga Brener principal. “We are looking at the overall system. … It’s a team effort, including the social worker, administrators and staff.”
The data also helps identify students in need of extra support and supervision.
“The students that we see most of are in a check-in and check-out schedule and must meet individually with an adult at the end of each school day,” Smith said.
Smith credits the entire district for teaching students the “Hawk Way,” demonstrated by being respectful and appropriate in the hallways during passing times.
“We have a set expectation throughout the district,” Smith said. “When students come from Hillcrest, they know what to expect.”
Smith said the district will continue emphasizing its programs in the 2014-15 school year, with special focus on recess and playground time.
The schools will receives banners recognizing their awards in August.
The state PBIS Network operates within the Wisconsin Response to Intervention Center, a collaboration between the Cooperative Educational Service Agency and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.