Principals: Anti-bullying efforts paying off in Bethel Park
Efforts to curb bullying in Bethel Park School District appear to be working, building principals told the school board March 26.
The principals gave a presentation detailing their efforts at the board’s regular meeting.
“Communication is the most important part of this whole approach,” high school Principal Zeb Jansante said.
The high school focuses on making sure students and parents know what is expected as well as how to get help. The high school implemented an anonymous tip line so that administrators can respond quickly whenever a situation arises.
However, while instances of bullying appear to be on the decline, Jansante said he has seen an uptick in student anxiety and mental health concerns. The school has a team of counselors and a Student Assistant Program to help with those issues, he said.
Fred Pearson, principal at George Washington Elementary School, said he still sees misbehavior issues, but bullying, where a child is repeatedly targeted for harassment or aggressive behavior, is rather rare. So, the school focuses on character building, such as a reward program based on the book, “Have You Filled a Bucket Today,” which encourages children to fill an imaginary bucket with kind deeds.
“We try to catch the kids being nice to each other and we give them awards,” Pearson said.
Kenneth Patterson, principal at Neil Armstrong Middle School, said his school emphasizes character building as part of the health class curriculum.
Many of the bullying and harassment problems he sees now occur online, in multiplayer games and on social media. Curbing that behavior is difficult, because he needs the help of parents, since it’s occurring outside of school.
Other schools, particularly at the elementary level, use various programs to encourage children to socialize with different groups and different grade levels so that no one feels like an outcast.
Ben Franklin Elementary School, as well as other elementary schools, use programs associated with Rachel’s Challenge, an anti-bullying initiative that tries to create safer and kinder schools. The program was inspired by Rachel Joy Scott, who was killed in the Columbine High School shooting 20 years ago.
“I really applaud our teachers for taking that extra step,” said Teresa Doumont, principal at Ben Franklin.
School board members praised the anti-bullying efforts, but Director Connie Ruhl said the district probably “needs to do a better job of promoting what we do” in regards to promoting sound mental health and preventing bullying behavior.
The board also made several staffing changes that will reduce the number of teachers at the high school and shift some teachers at Washington and Lincoln elementary schools.
The board closed two second-grade teaching positions, one at Washington and the other at Lincoln, and closed a fourth-grade position at Lincoln. They will be replaced with third-grade teaching positions at Washington and Lincoln as well as a first-grade teaching position at Washington.
The board also closed two high school science teaching positions, an elementary physical education and health position, and a foreign language teaching position at Neil Armstrong Middle School. The board switched a high school physical education and health teaching position to the elementary level.
Three board members opposed the staff changes, particularly at the elementary level, since some elementary grades are projected to have class sizes in the mid-20s. They argued the class sizes were too large for the primary grades.
“As a former teacher, I know there’s a big difference between a classroom of 16 kids and one with 26 kids,” said director Pam Dobos.
She opposed closing the positions along with directors Ken Nagel and Barry Christenson. But, the measure passed 5-3 with director Cynthia Buckley absent.
Nagel suggested that the district hire teachers’ aides as a way to effectively reduce class sizes until a more permanent solution, such as redistricting or revamping the elementary school structure, can be implemented.
The board also approved the purchase of wireless access points and related equipment to improve the internet accessibility in various buildings in the district. Technology company ePlus will be paid $336,038, which includes a five-year support agreement. District officials expect to receive a discount for the purchase through the federal E-Rate program.
The board also increased the daily rate of pay for substitute teachers who are deemed “super substitutes” from $90 to $120. Super substitutes are teachers who report to the same building every day to fill in as needed.
The board accepted a donation from the Bethel Park Baseball Boosters for $5,332, which will pay for improvements to the baseball field.
In personnel moves, the board accepted retirements from Lauren Silay, physical education teacher at Memorial Elementary; Jackie Jeffers, biology teacher at the high school and Deborah Izaj, special education paraprofessional.