Wooster school board gets good reports on key issues

Good news was on the November agenda for the Wooster City School District Board of Education.

A report on the district's fiscal condition and a presentation on the impact on students and school climate at Edgewood Middle School and Wooster High School based on implementing the state's Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS) were encouraging.

Treasurer Amy Welty gave the monthly financial report and the updated five-year forecast, pointing out district finances are "ahead of where we thought we were going to be in May."

State revenue and interest income are up, she said, and expenditures are "on track," although they are "obviously up compared to last year," based on salaries and benefits and curriculum adoption expenditures.

For the current fiscal year, revenue is projected to exceed expenditures by $182,803.

By Fiscal Year 2028, the district's projected cash balance is a little more than $22 million.

Superintendent Gabe Tudor called it "a healthy forecast," in part based on good stewardship in the district for many years and taxpayer support.

Tudor is hoping the community will be encouraged by it as the next steps in master planning for facilities are taken.

Teaching appropriate behavior: Suspensions 'plummeted' this year

Several district personnel, including CJ Spreng, assistant principal at the middle school, gave the board a presentation on PBIS.

Its goal is "proactively teaching appropriate behavior at school," Spreng said, through a "research-based framework."

While regulating behavior is often associated with consequences, PBIS takes a positive approach through rewarding students for appropriate actions.

In teaching correct behavior and tracking it through PBIS, said Margaret Davis, assistant principal at the high school, good behavior has made a marked upswing between the previous and current school year.

Although there has been an increase in detentions, primarily because of an updated code of conduct, Davis said, out-of-school suspensions and corrective learning numbers have "absolutely plummeted this year," she said.

Davis also noted a decrease in "the number of big offenses."

Along with staff involvement in the PBIS process, Spreng said, the district is "proactively gathering student input" and seeking to engage parents and community members.

Rewards are factoring in for demonstrating RISE

Local businesses are participating in assisting with providing rewards, which include gift cards and raffle prizes for demonstrating characteristics of the acronym RISE − respect, integrity, safety and engagement.

The high school and middle school, along with putting together a system of rewards and recognition, are establishing a quarterly school-wide event.

On Dec.15 the last hour and 43 minutes of the day will be devoted to activities selected through student surveys.

PBIS incorporates a mental health approach, Board President Sue Herman said, adding, engaging students on behavioral expectations is important.

PBIS committee members also discussed data management and analysis and identifying areas of concern.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: School board gets good news on student behavior, financial status