© 2004-2005.

[Johanna Freivalds].

All rights reserved.

Email Mrs. Freivalds at freivaldsj@lockwood.k12.mt.us
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MBI Team Meeting Overview

June 20-24 , 2005

MSU Bozeman, MT

Minutes from June meeting are as follows:

Members present:

Robin Vezina, Linda Ruegsegger, Brent Lipp,   Chris Martin, Marilyn Capron, Sue Roberts,   Johanna Freivalds, Carrie Larson, Linda Scozzari, Jennifer Tresch, Mike Sullivan, Kim Pollock, Linda Hanson, Charles Harvey

 

 

Overview:

Staff attended various seminars and keynote speakers throughout the week.   Presenters touched on a wide variety of topics such as indicators of poverty, brain research, communication, mental and physical health to the importance of data in the MBI process.

Core team members also attended in-depth training on the MBI process and how it relates to Lockwood Middle School at an all-day session off campus on Tuesday, June 21.    Additionally, Robin Vezina and Mike Sullivan attended facilitator-training sessions on Thursday, June 23.

As a result of the in-depth training and discussions over the course of the week, group members came to the realization that the focus for the middle school during the up- coming school year needs to be on putting our universal systems in place.   These universal systems are the foundation behavioral expectations of all students and staff while at school.   The universal expectations can be defined by the acronym PRIDE (formerly LION PRIDE which was determined to have too many indicators as studies have shown 3-5 indicators are an ideal number).   

P    positive attitude

R    respect for self and others

I     involved in own learning

D    determined to succeed

E     empathy for others

Discussion:

Available staff gathered Thursday afternoon, June 23, to discuss MBI issues as well as what would be necessary to proceed with MBI work at the middle school.    Our primary goals at this meeting were to establish clear lines of communication about MBI to all staff and interested parties as well as organizing ourselves so as to be able to build on our first year's MBI efforts.   Several items were decided upon as listed:

1.    With regard to all future MBI communication, the group decided that we needed to do the best job possible to make it easy for all staff to be aware of issues and progress.   With that goal in mind, the group decided that all future MBI communication will be

  • sent as an e-mail to staff via First Class

  • posted on the MBI bulletin board in the staff lounge

  • posted on the MBI website (all committee meeting times, agendas and minutes need to be forwarded to Johanna so they can be posted on MBI website).

Additionally:

  • hard copies of all information sent via e-mail will be placed in each of the para-professional's mail boxes in the lounge to ensure they see the information since all the MS paras share one First Class account

 

2.   As MBI work progresses and committee work begins, it is vital that staff understand the process of consensus building and what consensus means.   To ensure that middle school staff has the same understanding of consensus, Mike Sullivan will include a discussion of this during one of the first two school PIR days.  

3.   The group determined that to proceed with MBI during the coming year, several committees would need to be formed to divide the work into manageable duties.    It was decided that core-team members would be committee chairs and group members present would choose committees on which to serve.     Of primary importance, the MBI group decided that grade level teams would assign team members to the committees so that all staff members have the opportunity to participate. Team members will be given the opportunity to sign up for committees on the first PIR day of this school year.

Additionally, staff members who desire to do so, may participate in committees of their choice as a committee member or to provide input over the course of the year.   Committees formed to cover our immediate needs include:

  • hallway committee--this committee will oversee the work started on improving hallway behaviors which was started at the end of last school year. Brent Lipp will chair the committee; Linda Scozzari will serve on the committee as well.

  • survey committee--this committee will oversee the continuation of the collection and interpretation of data such as the data that was collected by our initial student, staff and parent surveys.   Additionally, the group will explore the use of SARB (online survey tool) to collect data for future use.   Randal Rice and Charles Harvey will co-chair this committee and Carrie Larson will serve on the committee.

  • behavior committee--this committee will oversee the redesign of the office referral process for student behaviors so as to clarify and define what constitutes   student misbehavior.   The primary purpose of this committee will be to ensure that students and staff have the same understanding of behavior and that misbehavior incidents are reported in such a manner as to provide consistently reported data for school improvement/MBI use.   Johanna Freivalds will chair the committee, and Mike Sullivan,   Linda Hanson, Marilyn Capron and Jennifer Tresch will serve on the committee.

  • reward committee--this committee will oversee the design and implementation of a system of student and staff rewards to ensure   the reinforcement and celebration of   desired and helpful behaviors.   The primary purpose of this group is to increase the ratio of positive to negative staff/student interactions.   Kim Pollock will chair the committee and Sue Roberts and Chris Martin will serve on the committee.

  • communication committee--this committee will monitor the progress, implementation and support of our universal systems.    The committee will also help ensure that MBI work and progress is being clearly communicated to all involved parties.   Linda Ruegsegger and Robin Vezina will co-chair the committee.   This committee will consist of core team members:   Brent Lipp, Randal Rice, Mike Sullivan, Kim Pollock and Johanna Freivalds.  

 

 

 

Next Meeting:

Behavior Committee (to date)

Topic:   Discuss office referral forms and process

Meeting time to be set by Mike Sullivan a week or so before the start of school—Mike is to notify committee members.