Sullivan County School District, Blountville, Tennessee
In 2003, as the result of several law suits, thirty-six elementary, middle, and high school principals were required by the Justice Department to work to improve school climate and reduce racially motivated bullying and harassment. Most principals were resistant because they did not accept the premise that they had problems with harassment in their schools. Sullivan County hired MSA to help them assess their school climate improvement efforts and move forward. Focus groups and student interviews have been conducted in all schools to gather first-hand accounts of students’ experiences, student and adult leaders have been trained to collect school climate data and lead improvement efforts and all schools are now in the process of collecting their third round of student and faculty surveys.

In addition to improvements in school climate, findings from data collected in Sullivan County showed a positive correlation between school climate improvement and academic achievement. In their fifth year of this work, principals are motivated and encouraged by the results they have seen from participating in the SafeMeasures™ Process. Students and adults are continuing to collect data on their progress and are working hard to implement action projects to further improve their schools’ climate.

Implementing SafeMeasures Across New Hampshire
MSA is working with schools across the state of New Hampshire to improve school climate and learning through the SafeMeasures Program. Many of these schools are in rural areas and have implemented combined Student Leadership Teams with students from different aged levels. These multi-level teams have students working together on common projects which will improve the school experience for all students as they move through elementary school to middle school and then high school. We are delighted to be working with so many schools in our home state and enjoy having the opportunity to share the best practices we are finding.

Student and adult leaders at these New Hampshire schools will spend the year collecting school climate data, setting goals for school improvement and creating action plans to meet the unique needs of schools in these small areas. In addition, middle and high school student leaders will have the opportunity to share challenges and ideas at MSA’s Annual Student Leadership Summit in January.

In 2009-2010, MSA will work with schools in Andover, Hopkinton, Littleton, Lincoln-Woodstock, New Ipswich, Pittsfield, Rochester and Turners Falls.

Documenting and Promoting Extended Learning Opportunities in New Hampshire High Schools
MSA recently partnered with Plus Time New Hampshire to work with high schools implementing Extended Learning Opportunities. These learning experiences are part of New Hampshire’s Vision for High School Re-Design and some schools already have students who are taking part in these opportunities to learn outside of the traditional classroom. MSA will work with students at schools in Franklin, Manchester and other areas to document the kinds of successful ELO experiences in which students have already participated and to spread these ideas to other schools. In addition, student leaders at these schools will create plans designing additional ELOs and inspiring their peers to take advantage of these opportunities.