Use of Second Step materials still up in the air
CEDARBURG SCHOOL DISTRICT
By Christina Luick cluick@conleynet.com 262-224-4166
CEDARBURG — No decision was made for now regarding resources from the social and emotional learning program Second Step that was being used in the Cedarburg School District.
The school district paused the use of Second Step resources in the elementary schools because it was apparently not formally approved by the School Board.
The Curriculum Committee met earlier this month to discuss if the district should continue to use Second Step resources as part of its “Social and Academic Success” and “Bullying Prevention.”
The committee forwarded materials for Second Step’s Bullying Prevention to the School Board with no recommendation because committee members said they did not receive those materials. The rest of the Second Step materials will be discussed again at a future Curriculum Committee meeting.
Resources from Second Step, which has been used with children in kindergarten through fifth grade, was purchased and implemented into the school curriculum in 2018, said Superintendent Jeridon Clark. It is a part of the overall social and emotional learning (SEL) that is taught in the Cedarburg Schools.
“All Cedarburg K-5 students receive instruction on the skills necessary for social and academic success,” according to the background information provided by Superintendent Jeridon Clark.
These 30-minute lessons are taught by classroom teachers once a week for approximately 21 weeks. For the district anti-bullying program, CSD elementary school psychologists provide four 30-minute lessons focused on Bullying Prevention to students in grades 1, 3, 4 and 5.
“During both the skills for social and academic success and the Bully Prevention lessons, CSD staff use the Second Step resources as a component of the instruction,” the background information states.
Wisconsin statutes require school districts to “develop a model education and awareness program on bullying.”
It was Clark’s recommendation that the Curriculum Committee approve the Second Step resources.
But committee members expressed some concerns about the resources.
Committee member David Krier recommended that they have a discussion about if they even need a curriculum like this and if they did, discuss what they would want to achieve with it and see what types of options they have.
Committee member Elizabeth Charland and alternate committee member Laura Stroebel wondered if this type of learning should be left to parents.
“Some of the stuff I think is great for the school but some of the pieces I’m struggling with where I think it should be more coming from families,” Stroebel said.
Alternate committee member Hani Malek said he doesn’t see using the Second Step resources as replacing parents but as a supplement to it.
School psychologist Betsy Pelischek of Westlawn Elementary School said she and other school psychologists spent over a year researching for a curriculum before the district started using Second Step.
“I feel like it's designed to be developmentally appropriate based on research for what kids need at their specific grade levels,” she said.
The School Board will be having a meeting Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. following a budget hearing at 6 p.m. The next Curriculum Committee will be Thursday, Dec. 1.
Copyright © 2022 Conley Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. 10/25/2022
Tuesday, 10/25/2022 Page .A05
Copyright © 2022 Conley Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. 10/25/2022