MONROE - The Monroe School District is taking a proactive approach when it comes to bullying. The district is one of the few across southern Wisconsin to have students take a Behavioral Emotional Support System screening test.
Joe Monroe, the district's director of pupil services, during a report to the school board Monday night, gave an update on the district's new bullying plan that includes the social and emotional needs of students. Monroe said just 12 families opt to have their children not take the BESS social and emotional screening test. Students in third to eighth grade took the test that features a series of questions and requires students to write their answers with paper and pencil. Based on the results, district officials can identify students who may need more support with a psychologist or counselor.
"There are not a lot of schools doing this," Monroe said. "There is a lot of work. Some people feel it is intrusive. We had some parents call who were very angry that we were doing this. My response is this is why I'm hired to make sure kids get the help they need. It's not just reading, writing and arithmetic. It needs to be the social and emotional too."
Last year there were 106 reported bullying cases in the district. This year, with a new bullying plan that defines bullying as an intentional behavior that hurts and is difficult to stop, there have already been 94 reported bullying cases.
"We fully expected the bullying incidents to go up with all of the awareness and because there are more ways to report it now," Monroe said.
He said the BESS screening test will be given to high school students and it may given twice a year down the road.
Kurt and Teri Ellefson met with the board in September calling for a more stringent bullying policy. Kurt Ellefson and Teri were at the meeting Monday to donate $2,000 from the Jacob Ellefson Memorial Fund to have Shawn Harper, a former Indianapolis Colts player, come to the district to speak with middle and high school students about bullying, alcohol, drugs and life choices Friday, Feb. 15. Harper will have a presentation at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 15 at the Monroe High School Performing Arts Center and at 2:15 at the middle school auditorium. The Ellefsons support the district's efforts in bullying prevention.
"Teri and I have stated that we had faith in the professionalism of the board and administration in regards to the bullying policy," Kurt said during the public comment part of the meeting. "The path Mr. Monroe and Mrs. Hirsbrunner have chosen is a good one. Mr. Monroe and Mrs. Hirsbrunner have demonstrated professionalism and are dedicated to the emotional and educational needs of the students of the Monroe School District. By bringing awareness to the bullying issue you are making a positive difference in our students' lives."
The district currently tracks bullying cases through a reporting system that it purchased and uses the Positive Behavior Interventions which focuses on instruction for targeted behaviors and reinforcement for desired behavior including development of social and emotional supports. The district also had a unity day Oct. 10 where students signed banners, made pledges, posters and videos for bullying prevention. Bullying lessons have also been incorporated into the classroom.
Even with all the involvement within the district, Monroe said the issue of bullying reaches beyond the schools.
"It's really a community issue," he said. "It just doesn't come down to the school or kids. We have a role in that. We can't do it alone. Everyone has to have an active role in this."
In other action:
- The board approved offering a CAPP personal finance course for 2013-14 through the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
Junior or senior students can take the one-semester, three-credit CAPP personal finance course next year for high school credit or a combination of high school and UW-Oshkosh college credits. Sherri Hendrickson, who will teach the class, said the credits do transfer to many colleges and she has a list of those schools where they apply. The cost for taking the course is $401.40.
Students have to take one personal finance course to graduate, and most students now are taking either On Your Own, personal finance or economics. Starting next year, juniors and seniors who have a class rank in the top 25 percent or have a GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale or who have an ACT score of 24 and rank in the top 50 percent of their class are eligible to take the CAPP course.
- Hired Wendy Ott as a health aide at Northside Elementary School.
- Approved the retirement of Monroe Middle School art teacher Kris Preboske.
- Approved a $1,500 anonymous donation to the Gifted and Talented Scholarship Fund.
Joe Monroe, the district's director of pupil services, during a report to the school board Monday night, gave an update on the district's new bullying plan that includes the social and emotional needs of students. Monroe said just 12 families opt to have their children not take the BESS social and emotional screening test. Students in third to eighth grade took the test that features a series of questions and requires students to write their answers with paper and pencil. Based on the results, district officials can identify students who may need more support with a psychologist or counselor.
"There are not a lot of schools doing this," Monroe said. "There is a lot of work. Some people feel it is intrusive. We had some parents call who were very angry that we were doing this. My response is this is why I'm hired to make sure kids get the help they need. It's not just reading, writing and arithmetic. It needs to be the social and emotional too."
Last year there were 106 reported bullying cases in the district. This year, with a new bullying plan that defines bullying as an intentional behavior that hurts and is difficult to stop, there have already been 94 reported bullying cases.
"We fully expected the bullying incidents to go up with all of the awareness and because there are more ways to report it now," Monroe said.
He said the BESS screening test will be given to high school students and it may given twice a year down the road.
Kurt and Teri Ellefson met with the board in September calling for a more stringent bullying policy. Kurt Ellefson and Teri were at the meeting Monday to donate $2,000 from the Jacob Ellefson Memorial Fund to have Shawn Harper, a former Indianapolis Colts player, come to the district to speak with middle and high school students about bullying, alcohol, drugs and life choices Friday, Feb. 15. Harper will have a presentation at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 15 at the Monroe High School Performing Arts Center and at 2:15 at the middle school auditorium. The Ellefsons support the district's efforts in bullying prevention.
"Teri and I have stated that we had faith in the professionalism of the board and administration in regards to the bullying policy," Kurt said during the public comment part of the meeting. "The path Mr. Monroe and Mrs. Hirsbrunner have chosen is a good one. Mr. Monroe and Mrs. Hirsbrunner have demonstrated professionalism and are dedicated to the emotional and educational needs of the students of the Monroe School District. By bringing awareness to the bullying issue you are making a positive difference in our students' lives."
The district currently tracks bullying cases through a reporting system that it purchased and uses the Positive Behavior Interventions which focuses on instruction for targeted behaviors and reinforcement for desired behavior including development of social and emotional supports. The district also had a unity day Oct. 10 where students signed banners, made pledges, posters and videos for bullying prevention. Bullying lessons have also been incorporated into the classroom.
Even with all the involvement within the district, Monroe said the issue of bullying reaches beyond the schools.
"It's really a community issue," he said. "It just doesn't come down to the school or kids. We have a role in that. We can't do it alone. Everyone has to have an active role in this."
In other action:
- The board approved offering a CAPP personal finance course for 2013-14 through the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
Junior or senior students can take the one-semester, three-credit CAPP personal finance course next year for high school credit or a combination of high school and UW-Oshkosh college credits. Sherri Hendrickson, who will teach the class, said the credits do transfer to many colleges and she has a list of those schools where they apply. The cost for taking the course is $401.40.
Students have to take one personal finance course to graduate, and most students now are taking either On Your Own, personal finance or economics. Starting next year, juniors and seniors who have a class rank in the top 25 percent or have a GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale or who have an ACT score of 24 and rank in the top 50 percent of their class are eligible to take the CAPP course.
- Hired Wendy Ott as a health aide at Northside Elementary School.
- Approved the retirement of Monroe Middle School art teacher Kris Preboske.
- Approved a $1,500 anonymous donation to the Gifted and Talented Scholarship Fund.