At a June 9 school board meeting, Springfield Public Schools board member Susan Provance asked, “What have you seen on TV? What have you read in the newspapers?” The question set the stage for a discussion of the district’s ongoing behavior‑management effort.
PBIS framework shows measurable results
Deputy Superintendent of Academics Nicole Holt presented data from an independent third‑party review indicating that more schools are fully implementing the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) system, which the district rolled out in the 2023‑24 school year. The review linked the framework to higher attendance rates and stronger academic outcomes.
State statistics from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education confirm the trend. Since PBIS was adopted, reported discipline incidents have dropped each year: from 784 in the first year to 694, then to 526 in the second year. Recent numbers for the 2025‑26 school year have not yet been released, but district officials expect the downward trajectory to continue.
Local schools report specific gains
During a July 9 meeting of the North Springfield Betterment Association at Williams Elementary, Superintendent Grenita Lathan highlighted individual school successes. Boyd Elementary saw a reduction of 135 incidents and earned recognition for its PBIS teacher‑leader team. Bowerman Middle reduced building discipline by 23 percent, while Weaver Elementary reported a 1.94 percent decrease.
Holt noted that 43 of the district’s 50 schools achieved an implementation rate of 80 % or higher at the Tier 1 level during the 2025‑26 school year, up from 28 schools the year before. Every elementary school met the benchmark, and nine middle/K‑8 schools and four high schools also reached it.
What the data means for families
Students returning to class on August 25 received updated handbooks that outline behavior expectations, grade‑specific consequences and a clear flowchart for handling disruptions. The district also released a series of short videos covering topics such as cellphone use, bullying, drug use and bus conduct, as well as a separate handbook detailing its new AI policy.
“We still have students in our buildings who are experiencing issues with their behavior,” Holt said in a recent interview. “What I think our system has done a really good job of is saying this is what we expect, holding to those expectations, and working in partnership whenever things are not going the way we hope they would.” Partnerships often involve teachers and principals coaching students on behavioral skills and families reinforcing desired conduct at home.
Teacher perspective
Shannon Benne, president of the Springfield NEA, praised schools that combine strong leadership with the PBIS framework. “York Elementary is a good example of how effective a PBIS framework can be—when the school has a supportive leader who understands the system,” Benne said. She acknowledged that some teachers still face physical threats, but emphasized that a solid leader can protect staff and enlist parental help.
Investment and future outlook
The district plans to spend $4.8 million in the 2026‑27 school year to sustain PBIS, covering focus rooms, additional assistant principals and district‑wide training. While the number of incidents is an encouraging metric, Holt stressed that broader implementation consistency is even more critical, as it allows schools to identify and address “hot spots” more effectively.
As the PBIS framework enters its fourth year, Springfield Public Schools officials remain confident that the system will continue to promote a safer, more disciplined learning environment that supports both academic achievement and family involvement.
Original reporting: Springfield Daily Citizen — read the source article.
