Behavior Management

Behavior Management

Session 6 focused on Behavior Management through Safe Schools and the discipline matrix, bullying, and a mental health lens. This session had speakers on each of the topics listed. They were very thorough and knowledgeable about their specific area of expertise. They went through scenarios that happened recently in schools that if were not handled a specific way could result in lawsuits to even jail time for all parties involved.

Discipline Matrix

Let us start out with the Student Code of Conduct Policy 5.1813 Student Code for Secondary Students (6-12). This code's guiding principle is a set of policies, rules and laws by which order is established and maintained for the benefit of all. This is intended to be an instructive policy based on interventions and support for students. Discipline within a school must have the qualities of objectivity, consistency and equity. Palm Beach County School District has discipline referral incidents classified as level 1 through 4 with level 1 being the most minor and level 4 the major level. They also use a Corrective Behavior Intervention Form (2464) to track minor student behavior issues. Each incident level has a specific coding and allowed actions.

Bullying & Title IX

District policies that apply with bullying are 5.81 - Protecting Students from Sexual Harassment and Discrimination, 5.82 - Teen Dating Violence and Abuse, 5.001 - Protecting Students from Discrimination and Harassment, and 5.002 - Anti-Bullying and Harassment. Bullying and Cyber-bullying is a very serious concern that is leading to mental health issues in our students that when missed in schools can become deadly at times. When reporting bullying use the acronym R.I.P., repetitive, imbalance of power, and purposeful actions. Palm Beach County has ways for students to report bullying through a hotline, email, student portal, anonymous drop box, or in person. The slogan used is See Something Say Something. Forms used with bullying and sexual harassment are 2508 student bullying, harassment, and teen dating violence report, 2509 student investigation summary, and 2597 student investigation evidence. There are many possible interventions used in the schools such as stay away agreements form 2507, safety plan form 2506, schedule changes, referred to school counselor and set up with a mentor, or referral to an outside agency for additional services.

Title IX and sexual harassment is a very serious matter. The procedure for this is through a very detailed investigation that is timely and equal for all parties involved. When dealing with a sexual harassment cases it is wise to utilize Safe Schools throughout the process.

Multi-Tiered Mental Health Supports

Mental Health is a state of wellbeing in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community. This can be greatly affected when dealing with bullying or sexual harassment. There are many potential warning signs in students such as tantrums, stomach aches or headaches for no known medical cause, sleeps too much or too little, nightmares, not interested in playing with others, academic difficulty or decline in grades, and or repeated actions or checking things many times out of fear something bad will happen. Some ways to recognize symptoms can be the frequency of the changes in the student, the duration of the change, and or the level of impairment it has on the student. Palm Beach County has school-based mental health professionals in our district and schools. There are School Counselors, Family Counselor, School Psychologist, School Behavioral Health Professional, Co-Located Mental Health Professional, and Community Clinician. Teachers need to know the map of their schools referral process.