JCPS officials meet with parents to improve student behavioral issues

Jefferson City Public Schools officials met with parents to improve behavior issues within the district Wednesday.

ABC 17 News reported behavior incidents spiked from the 2013-2014 school year to the 2014-2015 year. Those incidents were above the state average.

Superintendent Larry Linthacum and members of the district’s behavior task force spoke to parents at Clarence Lawson Elementary Wednesday. They will speak to parents in all 18 buildings by mid-October.

“Before when you had behavioral kids, nobody knew how to do anything or nobody knew how to handle them, and with this program, you are able to know what to do, how to handle them and how to interact with the teacher as well,” parent Cara Kempker said.

JCPS officials spoke to parents about the district’s strategic plan, code of conduct, disciplinary consequences and how parents can help with behaviors at home.

“The main message is that we have to work together to ensure a positive learning environment for our kids,” Linthacum said. “And we all know that starts at home. Classroom disruptions can keep learning from occurring.”

In the 2014 to 2015 school year, behavior incidents in Jefferson City Public Schools more than tripled the number of incidents in Columbia Public Schools which had nearly double the enrollment.

Data from the previous school year is set to be released in early October, according to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Linthacum told ABC 17 News there were three main types of behavioral issues in the previous school year.

“Number one was classroom disruptions, so classroom behaviors within the classroom, number two was bus referrals and number three was recess and transition times,” Linthacum said.

The district is starting to address the problem by communicating expectations to parents, students and teachers.

“You know, it might get worse before it gets better–we hope that’s not the case,” Linthacum said. “We just want to focus on connecting with kids, not focusing on disciplining kids.”

Some student behaviors JCPS plans to focus on this school year include proper language and conduct, respect and appropriate dress attire.

Teachers and staff also completed training with behavior interventionists before the school year started.