Committee members talk about steps Spruce Mountain schools have taken to address behavior problems

The Regional School Division 73 board meeting Thursday night provided information on the work being done at each Spruce Mountain school to address behavioral issues. From left to right: Directors Michelle Moffett, Andrew Sylvester, Danielle Brotherton, Holly Morris, Don Emery, Superintendent Scott Albert, and Directors Elaine Fitzgerald and Lenia Coates. Pam Harnden / Livermore Falls Advertiser

JAY — At Thursday’s Regional School District 73 board meeting, teachers Michelle Brunn and Carrie Mitchell shared information about the behavior committee and what is being done to improve behavior problems in Spruce Mountain schools.

Brann is a social studies teacher at Spruce Mountain High School and Mitchell is a third grade teacher at the elementary school.

The committee was created last spring. “At our association’s monthly meetings, teachers, especially in elementary and elementary schools, brought behavior issues to every meeting as a major issue,” Mitchell said June 27.

The first day of the workshop in August included information about Maine’s Student Hazardous Behavior Act, the district’s threat assessment process and the anti-bullying initiative, Brann said. She said committees were created within the buildings to focus on different areas of school life, including behavior.

In high school, vaping was identified as a serious problem and the vast majority were suspended from vaping, Mitchell said. “Students suspended for vaping are statistically more likely to face other disciplinary actions, including absence from class and insubordination,” she said.

The middle school continues to develop programs and instruction to change student behavior, with mindfulness, optimism and forgiveness as goals for the building, Mitchell said. The committee plans guest speakers, small group discussions, and one-on-one direct instruction.

Elementary school staff discussed minor and serious inappropriate behavior and updated the behavior hierarchy, Mitchell said.

“The school is also trying to increase the use of suspensions, and last year they introduced a new crisis plan for students,” she said. “We have also identified the school’s Healthy Living program as an opportunity to continue the anti-bullying work that has already begun there.”

Elementary school staff have received instruction on the trauma-informed crisis system, as well as a new behavioral consequences matrix and a teacher-buddy protocol used as a de-escalation tool, Mitchell said. She added that additional training is expected and Wednesday’s late arrival will be used for additional work on the crisis system and behavioral consequence matrix.

“All school staff are familiar withThe concept of “rudeness, meanness and bullying”, first introduced by Jenna Cote at a public forum last spring, and we worked with students to come up with examples appropriate for each grade level,” Brann said.

Other goals include getting parents to work with the board on future anti-bullying efforts and using the district’s social media accounts to encourage parents to speak up about rude, mean and bullying words and actions, she noted.

There’s still a lot of work to be done, but the committee is confident it’s off to a good start, Brann added.

“Thank you for your service,” said board chairman Don Emery.

“I fully support you,” said Principal Elaine Fitzgerald.

Director Andrew Sylvester said he also supports the committee’s work.