JEFFERSON TWP — The South Butler School Board heard two presentations at its Wednesday night meeting regarding positive-behavior programs for students.

The district, which recently enacted the Rachel's Challenge and Safe2Say Something programs, heard Jeff Hogan of the Karns City School District talk about the Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS) program.

PAYS sees students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12 take surveys about potential risky behaviors they might be engaging in.

“It gives the ability to look at students' needs beyond the academic program,” Hogan said.

He said the PAYS question “Do you worry about your household running out of food?” revealed the fact that Karns City students responded well above state norms for that question and resulted in a backpack program in which students receive nonperishable food items.

Hogan said the survey data enables school officials to make informed decisions regarding which programs they will use to provide the most benefit to students.

He said many layers and categories of school bullying are revealed in the survey as well, allowing school districts to deal with specific bullying issues.

David Foley, South Butler superintendent, asked Hogan how the survey determines whether students are embellishing their answers.

Hogan replied that steps are in place to ascertain whether students are answering sincerely, and surveys that are suspect according to PAYS criteria are thrown out.

Hogan said three school districts in Butler County now participate in the PAYS program.

The program also pays each school district that participates $2,000 to help implement the programs that result from the survey scores.

Hogan said students are not required to take the surveys and can skip questions that make them uncomfortable.

Foley said he used PAYS in another school district.

“As superintendent, I find value in it,” Foley said.

Assistant Superintendent Richard Cavett also gave a presentation on the EverFi program, which he learned about at a conference.

Cavett said EverFi is free to the district and uses various categories of curriculum to prompt positive behaviors.

Teachers access short lessons online on topics like digital literacy and responsibility, future goals, prescription drugs and financial literacy.

The lessons would be incorporated into classroom learning, Cavett said.

In the “resisting opioids” lesson, Cavett said teachers use role-playing exercises in class.

“That could fit very nicely into a health class, or financial literacy can fit very well into a math class,” Cavett said.

The school board did not take action Wednesday on either program.