1. Huntsville City Schools Creating a Positive School Climate and
No Place for Hate
June 18, 2013
Dr. Barbara Cooper
Deputy Superintendent
Donna Clark
Coordinator, Guidance Services

2. HCS Positive School Climate Committee
An inclusive committee composed of teachers, administrators, SRO’s, central office staff, students, parents, PTA, faith, business, and GLBT community members
Purpose of committee: gather stakeholder input, define the concerns, identify best practices in bully prevention, and review current district practices
Three workshops: November, February and May
This year we created a collaborative committee to address our school climate and to begin creating a comprehensive plan for bully prevention. We already had many structures in place but we wanted to create comprehensive structures for the entire district.
Our committee was inclusive it was comprised of teachers, administrators, SRO’s, central office staff, students, parents, PTA, faith, business, and GLBT community members
INTRODUCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Positive School Climate Committee Members
(who have RSVP’d for the BOE meeting tonight)
Terrie Litrell – parent and PTA
Judy Rushton – Director of Pupil Services
Peggy Harris – Principal, Ridgecrest Elementary
Jo Stafford – Principal, Ed White Middle School
Becky Lambert – Teacher, Huntsville High School
Maryann Moon – Teacher, Huntsville High School
Elisa Ferrell – President, Huntsville Council of PTA’s
Rena Anderson
Donna Clark and Me
Purpose of committee: gather stakeholder input, define the concerns, identify best practices in bully prevention, and review current district practices
Three meetings: November, February and May

3. Work of the PSCC Why address bullying?:
To ensure positive learning environments for all students
ALSDE compliance review recommendations, initial data, need
for systemic approach and legislative mandates
Review what works and what doesn’t work, review bully
prevention programs
Committee input for next steps
Incorporate character education programs and activities and
involve the community
Develop and implement school climate and bullying survey
Imbed Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) into
curriculum and school day
Establish long-term goals
Why address bullying?:
To ensure positive learning environments for all students
ALSDE compliance review recommendations, initial data, need
for systemic approach and legislative mandates
Review what works and what doesn’t work, review bully
prevention programs
Committee input for next steps
Incorporate character education programs and activities and
involve the community
Develop and implement school climate and bullying survey
Imbed Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) into
curriculum and school day
Establish long-term goals

4. Current Situation/Need
HCS has made a commitment to provide strategies for students, staff, parents and community members to reduce the number of bullying incidents. Through this effort, the PSCP Committee will suggest training, tools and strategies to ensure that a positive school climate/culture exists in every school.
This commitment also ensures that ALL student have a positive environment in which to learn and excel. This includes teaching students specific strategies for addressing a bully, such as telling a bully to stop and reinforcing with staff that they must intervene if bullying occurs.
HCS has made a commitment to provide strategies for students, staff, parents and community members to reduce the number of bullying incidents. Through this effort, the PSCP Committee will suggest training, tools and strategies to ensure that a positive school climate/culture exists in every school.
This commitment also ensures that ALL student have a positive environment in which to learn and excel. This includes teaching students specific strategies for addressing a bully, such as telling a bully to stop and reinforcing with staff that they must intervene if bullying occurs.

5. Character Traits Mandated by the Alabama State Legislature
August - School pride, sportsmanship and punctuality
September – Courtesy, cooperation, honesty
October - Patience & self control
November - Citizenship and patriotism
December – Generosity and compassion
January - Diligence and perseverance
February - Respect and tolerance
March - Creativity and courage
April - Cleanliness and respect for the environment
May – Cheerfulness, fairness, and kindness
This is a campaign that will be supported by the entire community our committee suggested that this was a great way to involve the community. We are encouraging all of our partners to include these character traits in newsletters, on marquees, webpages, etc.

6. Positive School Climate Plan
Four Main Components:
Bully prevention
Positive Behavior Intervention and Support
Character Education
No Place for Hate
Program Outcomes
Increase student attendance
Increase the number of students who feel safe at school
Communication Goals
Create awareness and support for the PSCP, to include the four main components
Share PSCP strategies for staff, students, parents and community and create a common language among schools
Four Main Components:
Bully prevention
Positive Behavior Intervention and Support
Character Education
No Place for Hate
Program Outcomes
Increase student attendance
Increase the number of students who feel safe at school
Communication Goals
Create awareness and support for the PSCP, to include the four main components
Share PSCP strategies for staff, students, parents and community and create a common language among schools

7. Positive School Climate
COMMUNICATION PLAN
Create awareness and support for the Positive School Climate Plan, to include the four main components
Share Positive School Climate Plan strategies for staff, students, parents and community and create a common language among schools

8. Positive School Climate Plan Communication Plan Target Audiences
Internal - BOE, HCS Leadership Team (cabinet) principals, and school staff
External – Students, parents, community members, elected officials, district committees, PTA, Rotary, Kiwanis, Chamber Education Committee, Schools Foundation, Leadership HMC, etc.
Key Messages
Be safe, be responsible, be respectful
Character Education involves the entire community
The PSCP campaign help provide equitable environments that optimize learning and maximize personal potential
Harassment, intimidation and bullying are not okay
Schools must be emotionally as well as physically safe

9. Positive School Climate Plan
Communication Strategies
Announcements at school events
District/School/PTA Web pages
Social Media: FB and Twitter
Schoolcast calls
Newsletters
Phases
Phase I: July – August 2013
Principals/trainers (train-the-trainer)
Phase II: September 2013
Site trainers will train all staff
Phase III: September – October
Train students and inform parents/gain support
Phase IV: October-November 2013
Community awareness

10. Positive School Climate Plan
Desired Impact:
Principals:
Will hold adults accountable for responding to reports of bullying and
emphasize that it is unacceptable to tell students to “just ignore” bullying
behavior
Will ensure that staff document all reported bullying incidents
Will ensure that character education words/messages will be shared on a monthly basis
Staff
Will emphasize to students that harassment, intimidation and bullying are
not okay
Will teach the stop signal and rehearse and practice with students as
appropriate for your grade level
Parents
Will believe school is a safe place to be
Will believe that adults at school care about their safety and will follow-
through after receiving any report or concern

11. No Place For Hate Timeline and Update
January Faculty awareness training (bullying and diversity) with HHS, HCMS and HHS
August No Place for Hate training with student and faculty reps from each middle and high school
September NPFH implementation
November 2012 – Additional training for counselors (Language of Bullying), assistant principals (Reporting and Discipline) and parents via ETV (Youth and Bullying: What Every Family Needs to Know!)
September 2012– March 2013– NPFH school programs and activities
April 2013 – NPFH Celebration
August 2013 – NPFH training for elementary schools

12. How to Become a No Place for Hate School
Sign and submit the No Place for Hate Application.
Create a No Place for Hate team to oversee the implementation.
Have students, teachers, and staff sign the Resolution of Respect.
Complete at least 3 school-wide anti-bullying or diversity education activities throughout the year.
Complete and submit to ADL the Certification Form to receive your official No Place for Hate designation.

13. No Place for Hate Update