2016 Community Report | Page 8

A plan for providing safe and positive school environments

Dr. Eric Gallien Deputy Superintendent

Schools across the nation, including RUSD, are challenged with providing every student a positive and safe learning environment— one that ensures each individual child is successful. This means we must also support students’ social-emotional development.

For some students, this is accomplished in a traditional school environment. For others, in particular those with significant behavioral challenges, alternative school placements appropriately address these behaviors. For students with mental health needs or other challenges, different supports and resources are needed.

We know these issues are important to you, our Racine community. Over the past three years, we have listened to your feedback and that of our students and staff regarding the learning environments in our schools. In response, we developed a three-year School Climate Strategic Plan.

1

School services and programming

RUSD is increasing resources and services for students who exhibit aggressive behaviors. We are providing off-site services to re-direct these behaviors so students can return successfully to a traditional school setting. We are expanding learning environments for special education students with behaviors associated with their disability. We will also expand our alternative program offerings, including credit recovery, GED and At-Risk programming for transition students.

Services and support for behavioral and mental health

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RUSD, in collaboration with the Racine County Collaborative for Children’ s Mental Health supported by the Johnson Foundation, has worked to develop a school-based solution for providing mental health services. Last year, we piloted school-based mental health clinics at two elementary schools( S. C. Johnson and Wadewitz). The clinics provide therapy services for students and families as well as mental health literacy and support for staff, students and families.