ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
The USD 480 school board will have a full agenda on its hands at its next meeting Monday evening starting at 6:30. Monday’s meeting will be in Room C107 of the Liberal High School East Campus.
Up first in the meeting’s new business will be discussion of the “Reframing Behavior” program in classrooms.
“‘Reframing Behavior’ is a district-wide training for all educators to help build a positive and supportive classroom environment. This program is designed to help adults understand how their bodies respond to stress and anxiety, which can affect how we teach and learn,” the agenda information noted. “It is based on four main principles: Reframing Your Perspective, Reframing Your Awareness, Reframing Your Actions, and Reframing Your Relationships. This program helps educators regulate their own emotions while helping students in their classroom exit fight, flight, or freeze mode and enter into learning mode. Training allows for each school to certify 2 trainers that will bring information back to their staff during Professional Learning Community (PLC) time and Professional Development Learning Days. Staff is recommending the board approve the subscription with Crisis Prevention Institute for use of this professional development program for the 2024-2025 school year.”
Up next for the board will be discussion of Nonviolent Crisis Intervention training.
“Nonviolent Crisis Intervention provides staff with the skills to safely recognize and respond to everyday crisis situations, including safe disengagements and restrictive interventions,” the agenda information noted. “Staff being trained will be certified for two years. Certification will allow those staff members to train others across USD 480 in a common de-escalation communication framework, proactive verbal de-escalation strategies, and safety interventions. Nonviolent Crisis Intervention is necessary to support staff and students in Emergency Safety Interventions, which is a state mandated reporting requirement. Staff is recommending the board approve the training for USD 480 staff members to receive Crisis Prevention Institute's Nonviolent Crisis Intervention training to be able to train staff in emergency safety interventions.”
Also set for discussion will be the district’s use of WebKIDSS for the 2024-25 school year.
“WebKIDSS is the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Management system for USD 480. This program helps case managers write IEPs for students throughout the year. In addition, WebKIDSS also stores files for students with 504 plans and School Improvement Team (SIT) plans,” the agenda information noted. “Staff is recommending the board approve WebKIDSS IEP Management System for the 2024-2025 school year.”
Also up for discussion will be a new nursing position.
“USD 480 currently has 10 Nurse positions with one being funded by the ESSER grant. As the ESSER grant is ending, we have found the additional nursing position brings considerable value to the district, and we would like to retain our current staff,” the agenda information noted. “In order to do this, we need the board's approval to fund the additional nurse's position from the General Fund at an approximate annual cost of $68,500. Staff is recommending the board approve the funding of the additional nurse position from the General Fund.”
The board will also be asked to approve a quote for cleaning the bleachers at Redskin Field before moving on to discussion about the purchase of two-way radios.
“USD 480 has solicited quotes to purchase used portable and mobile radios to be utilized throughout the district. These radios will be utilized for day to day operations throughout the buildings, facilities and buses. They will also be used for emergency communications with Liberal Communications,” the agenda information noted. “We will still be needing approximately 50 additional radios and are currently looking for additional sources. Staff is recommending the board approve the quote from First Wireless, Inc. in the amount of $19,125.”
To conclude the meeting’s new business, the board will be discussing Science of Reading professional learning.
“Science of Reading knowledge prepares staff to teach all children, including those with diverse needs and cultural backgrounds to read. It is not a curriculum or program, it is based on research, from multiple fields of study using methods that confirm and disconfirm theories on how children best learn to read,” the agenda information noted. “Science of Reading is part of the Kansas Department of Education Dyslexia Framework that is required within the Every Child Can Read Act. This training will be provided to PreK-5 content teachers, 6-8 ELA teachers, Special Education, English Language Learners (ELL), interventionists and administration. The cost will be $12,100. Staff is recommending the board Approve the Science of Reading Professional Learning for $12,100 for the 2024-25 school year.”
