Because of Murrieta Valley Unified School District’s strategic plan to maintain and develop positive behavior interventions and supports for students the district staff reported to the School Board Tuesday, Feb. 9, the district now has the lowest expulsion and suspension rates in Riverside County.
The staff presentation informed the Board of the progress made in the area of supporting district student’s social behavioral and emotional needs using evidence-based schoolwide positive behavioral interventions and supports.
The staff indicated the key to the success of the PBIS is a tiered system approach to establish the “the cultural and behavioral supports needed for all children to achieve social and academic success.” The presenters identified various strategies used by the district to implement the core elements of PBIS, and highlighted the benefits of each of its tiers and discussed the district’s mental health services.
Staff reported a number of years ago school districts were given a choice to continue to receive mental health services from Riverside County or work with the county to set up their own in-district mental health services. Murrieta chose to go on their own with the most recent data showing their success since 2010.
The first tier of the PBIS includes a consistent message encouraging good behaviors from elementary school through middle school. Messages about schoolwide expectations include: “Be Safe, Be Responsible, Be Respectful” are placed on signs and posters around the campuses. Elementary schools also use videos to showing how to best behave on the school grounds, in classroom and at home in ways children best understand. Student programs and assemblies encourage them to help and respect others.
The teachers and staff in the second tier of PBIS in the schools bring students exhibiting difficult behaviors together in small groups to discuss and find social solutions to their problems. The board was told “Boys Town Social Skills” are used in PBIS. Boys Town curriculum is used to teach social skills and manage behavior. The Boys Town Social Skills curriculum includes teacher-tested, classroom friendly lessons to help teachers develop a positive relationship with each student by praising students’ positive behaviors and successes as part of a shift in the way student behavior is addressed.
The third tier uses data analysis to identify and locate students who need the most help in improving their social skills.
In addition to using PBIS strategies and BoysTown Social Skills; staff reported on the district’s efforts to meet the needs of students with mental health issues.
The presentation included the Director of Special Education and mental health therapists who work with students who need Special Education service. Since the district developed their own program to deliver mental health services, more students in need of mental health services have been identified and are now served by the district staff.
In 2010 the district reported 26 students were receiving county mental health services. Currently the staff reported the district has identified 357 students who are receiving the needed mental health services. The district provides intensive family therapy supports to over 50 families.
The district has also identified 115 homeless or foster care children in the district who require interventions and services due to frequent moves and lack of stability in their education and home life. Of the 115 identified 73 are in the general education program and 42 are Special Education. Fifteen are receiving mental health services.
The increase in providing behavioral intervention and support district wide and the focus on finding students who need special help have both played a role in the drop in the districts suspension and expulsion rates.
The Board expressed their satisfaction in what the PBIS program has accomplished and encouraged staff to continue to reach the goals.
Board President Robin Crist said “It is important to the district to identify all these kids who need special services.
“It is good having more counselors on the staff to help these kids,” said Board member Paul Diffley. “It’s really exciting.” Since 2010 the district has hired more psychologists, counselors, marriage, family therapists and licensed social workers to meet the mental health needs of the growing student population.
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