FORT WAYNE – With a new grading system in place that prevents teachers from calculating classroom behavior as part of a student’s grade, Fort Wayne Community Schools is rewriting its code of conduct to reflect new approaches to student behavior problems.
High Schools Area Administrator Faye Williams-Robbins said the district is using a method that emphasizes classroom management, correcting bad behavior and setting expectations and positive feedback on good behavior. It’s called Culturally Responsive Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports.
The new code of conduct is being rewritten to reflect this training. Teachers are encouraged to set expectations and correct behavior without removing a student from the classroom, but Williams-Robbins stressed that situations still exist where removal, suspension, expulsion or an arrest are required.
Alternatives to just sending kids to the principal’s office include a new seating assignment, community service within the school or a conference with parents, all options that keep students in class and learning, Williams-Robbins said.
The district has also changed its policy on dealing with students who come to school under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Instead of sending them directly into the court system, the district has established an agreement with the Bowen Center, a health care provider, to offer counseling and other services to the student.
“It’s all about how we address these behaviors and continue to keep kids engaged,” she said.
