The South Butler School Board heard presentations Wednesday on two programs that promote positive behavior for students. The programs addressed everything from food insecurity and bullying to combating opioid addiction.

From what we’ve heard so far of the programs, the district should consider adopting them.

Some schools in the district are already utilizing two great programs — Rachel’s Challenge, which is aimed at reducing violence in schools as well as bullying and suicide, and Safe2Say Something, a statewide safety reporting system that enables students, faculty and parents to submit tips regarding potentially dangerous school-related situations.

The two programs — Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS) and EverFi — discussed at the school board’s meeting could also prove useful to the district.

The PAYS program surveys students in grades six, eight, 10 and 12 about risky behaviors in which they might be engaging.

One question on the survey is whether students worry about their household running out of food. The Butler Eagle recently ran a story on a county profile compiled by the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank that estimated more than 19,000 of Butler County’s 187,100 residents suffered from food insecurity, which is defined as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life.

Responses to the PAYS question revealed that in Karns City — where the program is already active — students responded in the affirmative higher than in other surrounding areas. The result is a backpack program that gives nonperishable food items to students in need.

The PAYS program also addresses the various types of school bullying. Earlier this year, the Seneca Valley School District kicked off a series of presentations on cyber bullying and there have been several scares in Butler County this year involving threats to local schools made via social media.

The EverFi program promotes positive behaviors and involves a variety of topics, such as digital literacy and responsibility, goals, financial literacy and resisting drug use.

In other words, both PAYS and EverFi touch upon important topics that students in Butler County are facing. Some of these issues have been prominent this year.

Currently, three school districts in Butler County participate in the PAYS program. EverFi would be free to the school district.

“As a superintendent, I find value in it,” said David Foley, South Butler School District superintendent, of the PAYS program. We agree — and believe that this sentiment applies to both programs.

PAYS could be especially helpful for educators as it involves a series of surveys. What better way to find out which challenges students are facing than to ask them.

— NCD