Local News
PBIS In Parks
Fond du Lac, WI – Through an initiative of
Comprehensive Service Integration (CSI) of Fond du Lac County, Inc., Hamilton
and Lakeside Parks in the City of Fond du Lac and Village and Optimist Parks in
North Fond du Lac will be the first to display the signage that reinforces the
message that many of Fond du Lac’s children are familiar with: “Be Respectful,
Be Responsible, Be Safe”.
This language comes from
the Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) program within the Fond du
Lac School District. PBIS is a research-based, school-wide system of discipline
based on the belief that appropriate behaviors can be taught.
CSI is a local
organization that strives to improve the social, emotional, and mental
well-being of Fond du Lac County residents throughout the lifespan. One focus
area of CSI is to support safe school environments and violence prevention
efforts. This particular group, who has representatives from the Fond du Lac
County Sheriff’s Department and the Fond
du Lac Police Department, has created “PBIS in the Parks” and is hoping to bring the successes of the PBIS
program to Fond du Lac’s playgrounds.
John Redmond, Fond du
Lac’s Parks and Forestry Superintendent, has provided valuable input to this
project in order to ensure its successful implementation. Mr. Redmond shared,
“The City of Fond du Lac Park Department is happy to have PBIS in our parks.
Fortunately the City has had few problems in our playgrounds. This program will
help reinforce positive behavior, to ensure all children have an enjoyable
time.” Another partner in this project is Domino’s Pizza. They have donated
coupons for free parm bites for law enforcement to hand out to kids who are
“caught” following park expectations.
“PBIS is clearly
practiced in the Fond du Lac School District, therefore, the decision to
develop a PBIS expectation sign that will be posted in the community and City
Parks, encourages our youth to continue to practice in the community what
they’ve already learned in school. Fond
du Lac continues to be a fabulous place to live, play and recreate and with
this signage, setting the same behavior expectations for everyone else, will
provide the same guidelines for behavior throughout our community,” shared Mark
Strand, Chief Deputy, Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s department.
PBIS is not just for
schools and community. Many parents find that what students learn from PBIS in
school carries over to promote positive behavior at home. Get involved by
contacting your child’s school to learn about PBIS implementation both in
school and at home. For more information on PBIS and CSI, or to become
involved, please visit csifdl.org or contact Megan Harshbarger, CSI Program
Coordinator, at (920) 906-6715.
CAPTION –
Shown with one of the
new PBIS signs at Lakeside Park are (left to right) John Redmond, Fond du Lac
Parks and Forestry Superintendent, Kim Henn, PBIS External Coach, Catherine
Gbordzi, Solomon Gbordzi, Marian Sheridan, Fond du Lac School District School
Healthy & Safety Coordinator, Mark Strand, Chief Deputy, Fond du Lac County
Sheriff’s department, and Megan Harshberger, CSI
Coordinator.