Monday’s Board of Education meeting marked the start of Sean Dusek’s role as Interim School District Superintendent.

“I have talked more (tonight) than I have talked at any board meeting,” Dusek said. He said the first day had gone smoothly.

Monday afternoon Director of Pupil Services Clayton Holland presented to the school board on Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports. The framework implemented five years ago, which began at Sterling Elementary School is now a working policy in 11 Kenai Peninsula Borough School District schools.

“It is the reason we think the need for disciplinary action has dropped in the district,” Dusek said.

The approach reinforces positive behavior in a variety of ways, which includes direct and indirect rewards, Dusek said.

Holland said schools have to follow a district-wide blueprint, but have some autonomy in the classrooms and administrative offices. Educators and leadership may come up with innovative ways to acknowledge positive behavior, he said.

It assumes students don’t inherently know the correct way to behave during school hours, Holland said. The program teaches how to interact positively with peers, staff and teachers and does so sustainably, he said.

Reach Kelly Sullivan at kelly.sullivan@peninsulaclarion.com