By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
A new R.I.S.E. program in USD 428 was presented as a first-read item on Monday's board of education agenda with no vote expected. The board was so impressed with the idea behind the program that a vote was held and the program was approved. Barton County Special Services Director Ashley Riley explained how the Resilience, Inspire, Self-Empowerment program works.
"The R.I.S.E. program focuses on relationships, instruction, safety, and emotional well-being," she said. "It is an alternative to out-of-school suspension (OSS). Focusing primarily on elementary schools, we have had a number of students who have received OSS due to behaviors. This keeps them in school although in an alternative setting. It keeps them working on their work, and it keeps them progressing. It also focuses on some social-emotional as well."
The district will work with Educational Services and Staff Development Association of Central Kansas (ESSDACK) to set up the tiered program. Level one is a "bare-bones" setting to incentivize the student to progress through the levels. Levels two through four will provide more access to items. Once students reach level four, staff will work toward reintegration back into the classroom. The program will initially be used only at Park Elementary School, and Principal Kelsey Sciacca explained how integration works.
"If a student was coming back on Monday - let's say they had been at this program for a week - we would meet on Friday with the team from our school," she said. "That would be our student-family advocate, their assistant, myself, and their classroom teacher because that classroom teacher is key to helping them integrate. We want them to understand what they've gone through and learned in levels one, two, three, and four."
The board of education approved the project at a one-time cost of $13,600, which includes the framework for the program, curriculum, and training. The program will be housed at the old Washington Elementary building. Additional costs could be incurred if the program is added at other schools and on-site training is required.