Logan Dunn, a former third grade teacher at North Union Elementary took a new position this year at the middle school, serving as the Dean of Students.
He is there to teach staff and students about PAX.
PAX training helps reinforce positive behavior in students during school. The training is to recognize positive behavior in class and on the playground. An example is when a student raises their hand when a question is asked. His/her confidence in knowing the answer is rewarded. Maybe the students gets to turn their chair backwards from the teacher for five minutes, a reward that doesn’t cost anything. It makes the students more interactive in class. When they are recognized for their positive participation, the teacher rewards them.
The purpose of PAX is to teach students to have a positive attitude and less hopefully less trouble with non-active students.
North Union Principal Matt Burgraff stated that when last year’s fifth grade class moved to the middle school this year, the students were trained with PAX principals. He walked into a class, pulled out his harmonica and began playing it. Nearly 95 percent of the students recognized this as procedure and become quiet and attentive.Teachers hope that by rewarding good behavior, there will be less trouble in the classrooms. Other students will begin to recognize that other students are getting rewarded and they will follow their lead.
It was brought up that at the last school board meeting, a resident remarked that the sound system used in the gymnasium during high school graduation ceremonies, that the speaker system was horrible and that maybe the board should look into getting a better sound system. During Monday night’s regular board meeting, board member Brian Davis also commented that at a recent event, it was very difficult to hear. Superintendent Rich Baird will have the school technology coordinator, Jared Evans contact a company and find a solution for the problem.
In other business, the board:
-Set the next regular board meeting for Monday, Sept. 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the administrative board office.
-Approved a list of certified substitute personnel to be called on an as-needed basis for the 2018-2019 school year.
-Also approved a list of volunteers and substitute personnel for the 2018-2019 school year.
-Accepted the resignation of Sara Taylor as an elementary aide and hired her on a one-year limited expiring non-certificated contract as Elementary Secretary.
-Employed Alison Mount on a one-year limited expiring certificated contract as a third grade elementary teacher.
-Hired Ellen Stoffer on a one-year limited expiring certificated contract as a fourth grade elementary teacher.
-Approved the hiring of Jessica Curtis as head varsity girls golf coach; Chris Fields as assistant varsity football coach; Allison Tumey, assistant varsity volleyball coach and Katie Burns as high school junior class advisor.
-Approved teaching staff as mentors with supplemental contracts;
-Approved Rachel Haynes as Special Olympics coach;
-Hired Zachary Johnson and Sarah Arver on one-year limited contracts as middle school aids;
-Accepted the resignation of Dawn Howald as a bus driver;
-Accepted the 2018-2019 student-parent handbook;
-Approved Zach Maenz as a volunteer coach for the middle school football program.