By Peter Day
Senior Reporter
Though still in the training phase, Lucerne Valley Elementary School is already seeing results from the implementation of the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports program.
"We know our kids so well," LVES Principal Mary Eller said during Wednesday's monthly meeting of the district's board of trustees. "(With PBIS) we can anticipate issues better."
Eller's remarks, which also touched on the Common Core rollout and an increased number of elective courses, were made following a presentation by Corinne Foley, a program manager at the Desert/Mountain SELPA in Apple Valley.
According to Foley, PBIS is a systems-based approach for establishing a school's social culture that leads to an improved learning environment. Local educators started using the program six years ago to help reduce the region's high rate of student expulsions and suspensions.
PBIS helps prevent undesirable behaviors, defines and teaches positive social expectations, acknowledges positive behavior and utilizes the ongoing collection and use of data for problem behavior.
"It had a solid research base behind it," Foley said.
While students are asked to learn new, positive behaviors, the educators must also change. "We talk about changing childrens' behavior, but it's really changing adults."
Students are taught to "be responsible, be respectful and be safe."
As a third-year PBIS school, the LVES staff is continuing to receive training and support from Desert/Mountain SELPA. During the following school year, the elementary school will receive systems training, leadership team development, team training, coach/administer training and more.
Following Wednesday's presentation, LVUSD Superintendent Suzette Davis asked Foley to clarify several areas of concern previously brought up by board member Dawn Turnbull, who was absent from the meeting.
In answer to Davis's questions, Foley said there is no cost to the district. She also said the SWIS Suite, which the local PBIS schools use, is highly regarded.
"SWIS is cutting edge," Foley said "It's what they are using across the U.S."
But the bottom line is the positive results PBIS has on local students and schools.
"The classroom is where the rubber meets the road," Foley said. "The expulsion and suspension rates are going down, and the scores are going up."