AN ALTERNATIVE TO A SUSPENSION PROGRAM

Scott Thielman Superintendant Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose

Schools

Mark Mischke Principal Buffalo High School

Kris Thompson Assistant Principal Buffalo HS

Abe Abrahamson Wright County Supervisor Juvenile Probation

THE “WRIGHT” CHOICE

WHY COLLABORATE? ¢ Streams of funding for government

agencies…we are all drinking from the same watering hole. �  Spider Web vs. Silos of Information

¢ Get services to our most at-risk populations �  Help to connect the dots – RAT MAZE

¢ Work smarter, not harder. ¢ It’s about people, not programs!

POTENTIAL COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS

¢  Court Services �  Probation, County Attorney,

Judges ¢  Human Services

�  Child Protection, Family Assessment including Truancy, Public Health and Health Promotion

¢  Law Enforcement �  Sheriff Dept and City Police

¢  City and County Leaders �  Council/Board Members

¢  School District Leadership �  Superintendant, Community

Ed, Board Member, Principals

¢  Mental and Chemical Health Providers ¢  Private Schools in district

Public Services

Private Services

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SAFE SCHOOLS INITIATIV

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A diverse group of community players devoted to meeting during the school year to discuss safety issues related to youth in the area.

ORIGIN OF BUFFALO’S SAFE SCHOOLS GROUP ¢ Began 1995 – over a cup of coffee ¢ Collaboration of core support

�  School District �  Court Services �  County Attorney’s Office �  Law Enforcement

¢  Sheriff’s Office ¢  Local Police Departments

�  Human Services (Added in 1998)

GOALS OF SAFE SCHOOLS ¢ Promote information with those that are

involved in providing a safe environment for learning.

¢ Provide a vehicle for communication between school district, law enforcement, corrections, and the community.

¢ Discussion of safety concerns and the prevention of situations that endanger youth.

¢ Share

WHO DO WE HAVE AT THE TABLE TO MAKE THIS WORK?

¢  School District Leaders �  Superintendant, Comm Ed, Principals, Counselor, Private

School, ALP, Cornerstones ¢  Law Enforcement – Sheriff / Police / SRO ¢  Court Services – Juvenile and Adult Units ¢  County Attorney ¢  Human Services

�  Supervisor, Child Protection, Children’s Mental Health and Truancy Worker

¢  City Leaders – Counsel Member/Mayor ¢  Area Mental Health Provider ¢  Bus Company ¢  Safe Communities of Wright County ¢  County Board Commissioner ¢  United for Youth

MEETING AGENDA OUTLINE ¢ Introductions ¢ School Updates ¢ Agency Updates ¢ Old Topics ¢ Additional Topics ¢ Guest Speakers ¢ Sub-Committee

Updates

WRIGHT COUNTY SAFE SCHOOLS

Annandale Buffalo Cokato D/C Delano ** Maple Lake Monticello Howard Lake/ Waverly/Winsted ** St. Michael- Albertville Rogers/Otsego ** Rockford ** **County Line Schools

BUFFALO SAFE SCHOOLS ACCOMPLISHMENTS ¢  School Safety Plan ¢  D.A.R.E ¢  School Resource Officers ¢  STOP Truancy Classes ¢  Driving/Traffic Education ¢  Parking Lot Attendants ¢  Street Lights ¢  Traffic Signals ¢  Roadway Improvements ¢  Teen Drive Wright ¢  SAVE – Suicide Awareness

Voices of Education

¢  Teen Court ¢  Restorative Justice ¢  Bus Safety ¢  Internet Safety ¢  Pay It Forward ¢  Diversity Committees ¢  Methamphetamine

Education and Drug Awareness (MEADA)

¢  P.I.F. Academy ¢  wRight Choice

OUR MOST RECENT COLLABORATIVE PROJECT

WRIGHT CHOICE

- AN ALTERNATIVE TO OUT OF SCHOOL SUSPENSION

HOW DID THIS ALL BEGIN?

¢ Out of School Suspension doesn’t work!

�  Students fall behind academically �  Students are at home alone �  Students and parents do not view as a deterrent �  Students’ issues are not being addressed �  Students are not learning the skills needed to be

successful in school

So what are we going to do about this situation??

A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH - DISCUSSIONS AT SAFE SCHOOLS MEETINGS

¢ Buffalo High School ¢ Wright County Court Services ¢ Wright County Commissioners ¢ Wright County Human Services ¢ Wright County Sheriffs Department ¢ Central MN Mental Health Services ¢ Buffalo Police Department

PARTNERED SCHOOLS – WRIGHT COUNTY

¢ Buffalo ¢ Monticello ¢ Maple Lake ¢ Delano ¢ Rockford ¢ St. Michael - Albertville ¢ Howard Lake - Waverly – Winsted ¢ Big Lake – (Sherburne County)

COST TO UTILIZE WRIGHT CHOICE

¢  $5000 per school district to save a seat ¢ Must provide own transportation

�  Pick up available at Wright Tech Center �  Students drive self �  Parent/guardian drives student

¢ BHM – pays .5 FTE for SpEd teacher

¢ Recipient of JJAC 2 year grant for $122,000 �  Expanded space �  Full time ESP support �  TruThought Curriculum for each district

WRIGHT CHOICE – AN ALTERNATIVE TO SUSPENSION PROGRAM http://www.bhmschools.org/schools/buffalo-high/about-school/wright-choice-program

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A WRIGHT CHOICE STUDENT

Arrive at the courthouse and go through the metal detector.

Breakfast and Introductions

Short Group Time

Academic Time

SHORT GROUP TIME •  Introductions •  Go over expectations. (DD) •  Go over the agenda for the day. •  Answer student questions •  Hand out homework/Point Sheets

It is all about building trust and strong relationships. Without these two things wRight Choice does not work!

3 hours of quiet homework time

Help from wRight Choice Teacher

Success and Better Grades!

1:1 TEACHER TIME 1. Discuss privately what happened. 2. Thinking Barriers 3. Four Basic Needs (When needed) 4. Brainstorm Solutions 5. Restorative Justice

THINKING BARRIERS

Includes discussion and written letter. Key components entail: • Why student was sent to wRight Choice. • What the main thinking barriers were when offense took place. • Why student chose the barriers. • Who was affected by the student’s choice and why. • What student plans to do in the future. • What the plan will look like. • How the student plans to stay on track.

•  30 Minutes •  Students bring their own lunch. •  PB & J for those who come without a lunch. •  Teacher eats with students.

 

Cell  Phone  Safety

Texting  and  Driving Sexting

Facebook  Safety  &  

CyberbullyingSelf  Change

Levels  of  Crime  &  Consequences

Perception,  Attitudes,  

Thoughts,  &  BeliefsCommunication

Chemical  Education

Consequences  of  Drug  Use

 

 

 

Values Belief  System Anger  Management

EmotionsPhysical  

Symptons  of  Anger

Self-­‐Esteem Grief Effective  

Communication

Reading  Body  Language

Role  Playing  &  Activities

 

 

 

Levels  of  Education  and  Expected  Salary

Responsibility

Respect

Body  Language

Responsible  Choices

Role  Playing  &  Discussion

45 DAY UNILATERAL PLACEMENTS FOR SPED STUDENTS AND REGULAR EDUCATION STUDENTS IN LIEU OF EXPULSION

Protocol for 45 Day Placement at wRight Choice Students attending wRight Choice for 45 days will:

• Follow the wRight Choice rules for group time, homework time, breaks, lunch, and while out in community.

• Participate in group discussions in a positive way. • Take the wRight Choice learning targets seriously each time a new group of

students start the program. • Ask for assistance when in need of help. • Be a participant in coming up with solutions to get back on track at home and

school. Behaviors that will not be tolerated at wRight Choice include:

• Showing disrespect towards adults or peers • Engaging in a power struggle • Insubordinate behavior • Disruptive Behavior-throwing objects, slamming doors, swearing, yelling at staff or peers, etc. • Fighting –verbal or physical • Putting down others in any way • Talking negatively about others behind their back • Being a negative role model –Ex. Minimizing the effects of bad choices or destructive behavior

Acceptable behaviors when frustrated:

• Ask respectfully to go to private room for time to cool off • Ask for assistance with homework • Ask for assistance with processing a frustration • Sit quietly and listen during group discussion. Simply indicate you would like to

pass on participating if upset.

Protocol for Longer Placement at wRight Choice Students attending wRight Choice for longer than 10 days will:

WHAT ARE THE STUDENTS SAYING ABOUT WRIGHT CHOICE?

¢  “In the future, when I get that uneasy feeling in my stomach, I will make the right choice and all the times to come.”

¢  “I want to change my reputation by not getting into trouble. I am going to work on my communication with other people when I am stressed.”

¢  “I am trying to learn as much as I can from the wRight Choice program. I have already used some methods I learned and it has helped a lot already.”

¢  “I am going to start letting my anger out in healthy ways.”

WHAT ARE THE PARENTS SAYING ABOUT WRIGHT CHOICE?

¢  “We appreciate an alternative to just being sent home when our son got in trouble – we felt it was a good learning tool.”

¢  “Our son learned his actions affected all of our family.”

¢  “Our son learned information on quitting smoking.”

¢  “I believe in the future, our son will think his emotions through before acting on them.”

WRIGHT COUNTY SCHOOLS SAY…

¢  “I have seen dramatic improvements in the students who have attended the program. Some kids have turned things around drastically, and others simply behave because they do not want to attend wRight Choice again…either way it is working!” - HS Principal

¢  “My teachers are happy because they are actually getting homework back from these students, in the past suspended students would do nothing.” - HS Principal

WRIGHT COUNTY AGENCIES SAY…

¢  “I think wRight Choice is a great opportunity for suspended students, instead of them sitting home alone. I was over there a while ago and talked to Leesa, she is amazing!” - Case Manager, WC Human Services

¢  “I have thoroughly enjoyed participating in the program. I am very impressed with how much the kids learn from the program and at whatever the cost…keep the program going!” - CD Coordinator, CMMHC

OTHER ALTERNATIVE TO SUSPENSION PROGRAMS

¢ YCAPP – Stillwater Schools ¢ CLAS – East Carver County ¢ PAUSE – Bloomington Schools

¢ Any other programs to share?

FINAL THOUGHTS – BUILDING COMMUNITY FROM – MARGARET WHEATLEY, THE FAMILY PROJECT

¢ Talk to people you know. ¢ Talk to people you don’t know. ¢ Talk to people you never talk to.

¢ Expect to be surprised! ¢ Treasure curiosity more than certainty. ¢  Invite in everybody who cares to work on what’s

possible. ¢ Know that creative solutions come from new

connections. ¢ Trust that meaningful conversations can change

your world.

NEW TWIST FROM LAST MONTH – FAST TRACK DIVERSION FOR PETTY OFFENSES

¢  Old System �  Immediate School Consequence �  4-6 week timeline through the county

¢  Diversion Program �  Immediate School Consequence �  4-6 week timeline through the county – usually a few hours

of community service, a weekend/evening class and group probation.

¢  Pilot Fast Track Diversion �  Immediate School Consequence �  Students meet upstairs with probation and begin diversion

process that next day.

FINDING ASSETS IN PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES

FROM – MARGARET WHEATLEY, THE FAMILY PROJECT

¢ What to look for in individuals �  Skills and Abilities �  Community Involvement �  Interests and Experience

¢ What to look for in Groups/Organizations �  Individual capacity of members �  Networks – the power of relationships �  Shared interests and goals �  Leadership and energy

¢ What to look for in institutions �  Facilities and equipment �  Expertise – human resources, marketing �  Employees – volunteers and community members

LAYERS OF SUPPORT FOR OUR STUDENTS

School

Family

Student

Community

ASK “What’s

Possible!”

“What’s Wrong?”

NEXT STEPS…

¢ What are the needs of our students? ¢ What are the assets in our communities that can

support families?

Building Partnerships and working in collaboration with others who share your

goals increases your chances of successfully launching and sustaining

programs!

CONTINUE TO SHARE IDEAS! ¢ Scott Thielman– BHM Superintendant

�  763-682-8707 sthielman@bhmschools.org

¢ Mark Mischke – Buffalo High School Principal �  763-682-8101 mmischke@bhmschools.org

¢ Kris Thompson – BHS Assistant Principal �  763-682-8102 kthompson@bhmschools.org

¢ Abe Abrahamson– Wright County – Supervisor Juvenile Probation

�  763-682-7959 Abe.Abrahamson@co.wright.mn.us