The Indianola School Board approved the creation of a new position in the administration at their meeting Tuesday, a Behavior Strategist. Superintendent Art Sathoff tells KNIA News the district is seeing a rise of students with behavior needs in both special education and general education students, and this position will help staff and students with training.

“This would just be an additional layer of support, someone with expertise and training in that area, with experience in working with behavior students and creating behavior plans. We see it as an important support for teachers in the classroom, for our students, for our principals. Right now situations are dealt with collaboratively between principals and teachers and associates, but this would be another person that could come in and help with training and strategies to deal with those situations.”

Sathoff also said the plan is to help all students and staff be more aware of triggers of escalation and prevent anyone from getting to the point of a meltdown or long recovery.