Superintendent's Message

March 29th marks the end of the third quarter for Columbia School District. The weather is getting warmer, the days are getting longer, and we have so many exciting activities and events planned over the next several months. While we still have a lot to accomplish between now and June 12th, I would like to take a moment to update our community on work being done behind the scenes to prepare for the next few months and years to come.

 

If you are connected to our District social media accounts, you would have seen a post recently on our Facebook account (Columbia School District #400) updating our community on the professional development work that occurred this past March 15th (District Waiver Day.) Over the past couple of years, staff across the district have been working diligently to enhance student support through the implementation of Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS.) To ensure the success of these initiatives, we have partnered with Dr. Lisa Hoyt, a renowned educational consultant to support our MTSS and PBIS initiatives. Our goal is to align district wide practices and procedures to enhance our current school environment to ensure every student can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Throughout the year, we have scheduled a series of professional development sessions tailored to the needs of our district. District and Building Leadership Teams teams have engaged in ongoing coaching sessions, planning meetings, and focused professional development to plan and design PBIS strategies. To date we have established consistent expectations across all three buildings, ensuring a unified approach to PBIS implementation starting in August 2024. Buildings will be piloting parts of the PBIS work this spring and you may hear and see new posters, procedures, or conversations promoting Safe, Respectful, and Responsible expectations. We are confident that these efforts will create a supportive and nurturing environment where every student feels valued and respected.

 

Parents, if you’re interested, you can find plenty of information on PBIS online. We invite you to join us as we continue our journey toward enhancing our culture and systems of support for students. We hope to see you on campus over the next several months and thank you for your continued support and partnership!