The Opportunity Room is a private, centrally located space in the building for our behavior specialist to work with students who are having difficulty with school behavior expectations. Students who have ongoing difficulties following reasonable directions after warnings and/or redirection will be referred to the Opportunity Room to work towards changing the inappropriate behavior. Behaviors that will automatically require a referral to the Opportunity Room include (but are not limited to):

Major Problem Behaviors:

• Abusive Language (including threats of harm)
• Fighting/Physical Contact
• Overt Defiance/Non-Compliance
• Dress Code
• Vandalism
• Technology Violation
• Harassment
• Hazing
• Bullying
• Skipping Class
• Alcohol/Drugs/Weapons

The following Minor Problem Behaviors are initially dealt with by the supervising adult.

Minor Problem Behaviors:

• Inappropriate Language
• Physical Contact
• Defiance/Non-Compliance
• Disruption
• Dress Code
• Property Misuse
• Tardy
• Technology Violation
• Gum Chewing

A student referred to the Opportunity Room will work toward determining a cause or precipitating factors for the behavior. Depending on the nature of the behavior, other individuals may be included in the processing of consequences. This may include parents, administrators, school counselors, teachers, or other staff as needed. The student will complete a written Success Plan to determine how to change the behavior and the consequence(s) if the behavior reoccurs. The plan will be signed by the student, behavior specialist, and the referring staff member, and will be filed in the Opportunity Room. The student and/or behavior specialist will also call the student’s parent to report the incident. Some behaviors will also result in a Tolerance Timeout. A Tolerance Timeout is an opportunity to have a trained individual help a student understand how his/her behavior was inappropriate, what caused him/her to act that way, and how to be able to get his/her needs met using more appropriate alternatives. The process requires discussion, at times some investigation, problem-solving and appropriate consequences. Students are expected to make up the class work they missed as a result of their removal from class.

1. A Discipline Referral Form is filled out by a teacher/staff member when there is a major or minor violation of school expectations.

2. The Behavior Specialist will receive the report and will look into the situation as appropriate.

3. If an infraction of a school expectation has occurred, the student(s) will process the incident (typically with the Behavior Specialist) and work toward determining the cause of the behavior(s) and formulating positive behavior goals.

4. In the case of Major problem behavior, the student(s) and/or the Behavior Specialist will call the parent(s) to communicate about the incident.

5. If the student’s consequences include a Tolerance Timeout, this may take place immediately after the planning process or will be scheduled for a later time.

6. The student will return to class.

7. The Behavior Specialist will update the referring staff as soon as possible, including the student’s teacher/support group. Additional staff who have a need to know will be notified. If a student has been referred multiple times to the Opportunity Room, the appropriate School Counselor will be consulted.

8. Copies of the student’s goals will be shared with BOTH the referring adult and the Teacher/Support group.