Old Saybrook Public Schools Old Saybrook High School Climate Plan November 8, 2016

Goals / Rationale: Climate survey results yielded three main areas on which the committee is choosing to focus throughout this school year: Focus Areas: Drugs and alcohol Communication on academic and behavioral concerns Consistent enforcement of school-wide expectations by administration and staff Continued Monitoring: Faculty and administration alignment on behavior expectations and responses Continue with implementation of Restorative Practice model Focus on specific protocols and expectations around communicating with parents/guardians Find unique and effective ways to educate students around substance use Engage students in honest and meaningful dialogue regarding substance use in teens Increase student voice in various aspects of the school

Connections to the Strategic Plan: Goal #1 Innovative and highly focused instructional design and practices that maximize student engagement while streamlining student work to that which is meaningful and essential Goal #3 Proactive and flexible plans that respond to changing demographics including • declining enrollment, • increasing numbers of students who speak English as a second language • increasing social and emotional needs of students • Increasing expense of education in a setting where the number of households with school-age children is declining

Statistics/Data: Survey Data: Consistent application of consequences by staff and administration for behaviors Students 47% Disagree/Strongly Disagree (Staff) 52% Disagree/Strongly Disagree (Admin.) Parents 25% Disagree/Strongly Disagree (Staff) 24% Disagree/Strongly Disagree (Admin.) Staff 42% Disagree/Strongly Disagree (Admin.) 3% Disagree (Staff) Staff consistently enforce the rules when there is an incident. 55% Disagree/Strongly Disagree

Statistics/Data: Survey Data: Communication regarding academic and/or behavioral concerns Timeliness of responses: 15% of Parents who responded Disagree/Strongly Disagree Teachers communicated academic concerns effectively: 20% of Parents who responded Disagree/Strongly Disagree

Statistics/Data: Survey Data: Frequency of observing students with drugs or alcohol in school. Students 7% - One time per month (9-10 times) Parents 20% - One time per month (Drugs) 8% - One time per month (Alcohol) Staff 21% - One time this year (15-16)

Statistics/Data: Survey Data: Frequency of observing transfer or sale of drugs on school grounds. Students 15% - One time this year (15-16) 2% - One time per month (9-10 times) Parents 4% - One time per month 12% - One time this year(15-16) Staff 5% - One time this year (15-16)

Challenges: Only 85 parents completed the climate survey Finding educational programs/presenters who create dynamic, meaningful messages with lasting effects Ensuring that students take an active role in communicating when they observe activities with drugs or alcohol Creating effective and impactful dialogue within the community Disconnect between staff and student/parent perception of some issues Getting lock-step on school-wide philosophy on behavior expectations and appropriate/consistent responses

Successes: Parents: Staff: Students: 96% agree there are clear rules 97% agree their child feels generally safe at school 93% agree there is someone at school to help if child has a problem 89% feel welcome at OSHS Staff: 85% report that students have sought their advice when having a problem 89% agree that the school is prepared for any emergency 90% feel as though parents are involved in activities 92% feel that teachers enjoy teaching at OSHS 89% feel proud of this school Students: 78% “enjoy learning in this school” 78% of students agreed/strongly agreed that they can depend on their teachers to keep them safe at school 87% identify at least one adult in the school they can go to 73% feel they have a voice in their learning

Next Steps: Provide additional PD on behavior expectations and consistency of response Continue to fine tune expectations of faculty regarding communication with parents and guardians Continue to introduce protocols for reviewing student work and behavior issues Work with the Restorative Practice committee to develop building-wide philosophy on behavior expectations and appropriate and effective consequences Re-ignite the PBIS Committee Continue to explore effective ways of educating students on drug and alcohol use, e.g., Personal Wellness class, special presentations, Advisory discussions, etc.