The Turlock Unified School District has entered into an agreement with Dr. Michale Elium, an expert in school psychology and education, to provide two half-day and two full-day training workshops to select district personnel on positive behavior support in and out of the classroom.
The $3,900 training is funded by a grant from the California Endowment and a membership in the Central Valley Leadership and Learning Network, an organization aimed at reducing high suspension rates by focusing on prevention-based efforts.
Each school site in the district will send a team of personnel to the workshops. Each team will develop and promote the positive behaviors of Be Safe, Be Responsible, and Be Respectful.
For several years now TUSD schools have had programs aimed at creating harmonious campuses, including Character Counts, which teaches students a different positive character trait each month of the school year, such as integrity. Also, the Choose Civility campaign is aimed at communicating and practicing the core values of a community.
The district has a positive behavior support matrix, or guide, for how students should behave in various campus locations and situations. They include the classroom, restroom, hallways, arrival/dismissal in the parking lot, school yard, cafeteria, bullying situations, the bus, library, internet usage and events/activities.
Under a category such as “hallway” there is a “be respectful” component, offering guidance to use appropriate language, walk quietly, walk down the right side of the hallway, allow room for travel, clean up after yourself, and be honest and considerate.
The “be responsible” section follows, suggesting students get to where they need to go on time, pick up litter when they see it, be efficient in use of time, and be aware of they impact on others.
Lastly there is a “be safe” section: be substance-free, walk using correct hallway procedure, keep hands, feet and objects to one's self, maintain a path for travel, report dangerous and hazardous situations, and follow teacher requests.
