Murray City School District (MCSD) is excited to share some initial success of a new Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) platform called PBIS Rewards, implemented this school year in half of our schools, helping to build a positive and data-driven school environment for our students. Other schools are taking other approaches.

Student Services Director Darren Dean underscored the achievements of the program, stating he has noted a reduced number of behavior issues escalating to his attention. This means the PBIS initiative appears to be working and helping kids stay focused on productive behaviors that impact learning. 

He invited two schools, Viewmont Elementary and Hillcrest Jr. High to share some highlights of their PBIS programs at a recent meeting with MCSD leadership.

Digital Rewards Driving Engagement at Viewmont

One school, Viewmont Elementary, has created a digital "Eagle Store", replacing traditional paper points. This transition has been met with enthusiasm by students and parents alike. 

Students can now use their earned PBIS points to "pre-shop" a frequently updated digital menu featuring popular items like lanyards, water bottle stickers, and themed prizes. Teachers are even incorporating the digital store into math lessons, helping students manage their points and budgeting.

The platform also runs popular weekly drawings (for only 5 points to enter!), creating fun excitement. One recent drawing for a piñata saw over a thousand student entries, demonstrating the strong engagement this new system generates.

Data-Driven Decision Making

Beyond rewards, Hillcrest Jr. High’s system provides powerful data for our School Support Teams (SST). The administration can quickly review real-time behavior reports, tracking minor and major referrals to identify impacts and patterns, such as:

•  Areas of Concern: Data helped pinpoint the hallways as an area needing attention.
• Time of Day: Reports highlighted a spike in student referrals between 12 PM and 2 PM, prompting administrators to increase their presence and support during that critical time.
• Targeted Interventions: The detailed logs are invaluable for SST meetings, providing specific, respectful data to inform discussions with families and create customized game plans.

The bottom line is this new initiative is helping MCSD reinforce the behaviors we value, celebrate student success, and ensure a safe, supportive learning environment for all Murray students.