Published: October 21, 2009 11:37 pm      

GISD support system receives positive feedback

GREENVILLE — The Positive Behavior Support (PBS) model instituted this year at all Greenville Independent School District schools received positive feedback at the GISD Board of Trusteeas meeting Tuesday night.

After the Greenville High School Navy Junior ROTC presented the colors trustees unanimously approved the Campus Improvement Plans, of which PBS was the hot topic discussed, presented to them by the principals of each school, with the exception of Bowie Elementary school, who was unable to attend the meeting.

The PBS model is an alternative to corporeal punishment. There are at least 46 states in the United States that utilize this school-wide program that implements three levels of positive behavior support including universal, secondary and tertiary.

Formal evaluations of the PBS model have found significant reductions in discipline referrals. This has held true for GISD.

“Our PBS system is running well,” said Jim Withycombe, assistant principal at Lamar Elementary School. “I am starting to run out of discipline problems. In fact, this month it’s almost non existent.”

The Greenville High School has also seen some positive results with the new system in place.

“Our PBS system has been very successful this first six weeks,” said Heath Jarvis, principal at GHS. “Last year, in the first six weeks we had seven fights and as of today, we have not had one.”

According to Carl Key, GISD deputy superintendent, the system has had a phenomenal impact.

Board President Charles Sivley was pleased with the reports.

“I think these improvement plans are great,” said Sivley. “It indicates to me that you have worked very, very hard. This is the way we improve. We’re never going to be perfect, but we can strive to be better.”

In other actions, the board:

• Approved a class size waiver for Crockett Elementary School;

• Approved the purchase of a bus from Head Start Funds for L.P. Waters Early Childhood Center; and

• Approved the purchase of a sound system for the high school.