David Foley is a fairly low-key superintendent, but he spoke passionately at Wednesday's South Butler School District meeting about a program recently adopted by other districts in the county.

“It's more about (a focus on) the positive and having good interactions with each other,” Foley said.

He said he attended a Rachel's Challenge assembly this week at Butler High School with Knoch High School Principal Todd Trofimuk, staff members and more than a dozen students.

The South Butler students and staff were given a survey after the assembly, Foley said, and all scores were above 90 percent regarding the program.

“It's really teaching kids enough is enough — let's start over,” Foley said. “I want to move forward.”

The district has experienced security issues lately, including terroristic threats and other charges against student Jason M. Bowen, 18.

Bowen, who appeared in a Snapchat video firing an AK-type weapon under the caption “Training for prom walk,” was released from prison Tuesday to house arrest with strict stipulations.

His attorney confirmed he will not be returning to Knoch High School.

Foley acknowledges the district has “challenges” and needs overall improvements. He hopes that students will be nicer to each other and communication will improve.

“The adults too, not just the kids,” Foley said.

He said the program would cost $3,000 per school building, and would be used initially in the high school and middle school.

The other districts using Rachel's Challenge also use the program in secondary schools only.

Tyler Vargo, Knoch Middle School principal, stressed that Rachel's Challenge will not replace other programs, such as the Superheroes program in which sixth-grade students are rewarded for positive behavior.

Vargo said that in the Moon School District a new positive living club performs random acts of kindness as part of the Rachel's Challenge program.

“It has a really strong message,” Vargo said of Rachel's Challenge. “Reading about it online and discussing it do not do it justice. You have to see it in action.”

Greg Mandalas, primary school principal, said his 16-year-old son attends the Butler School District and experienced the program there.

“He doesn't get excited about much, but he came home with all kinds of stories about Rachel's Challenge,” Mandalas said.

Foley said he will ask the school board to approve the Rachel's Challenge program at next month's meeting to get it going as soon as possible.

The program shares Rachel Joy Scott’s journal writings and home videos in an effort to show that triumph can and often does arise out of tragedy. The group also strives to prevent teen violence and bullying.According to the Rachel’s Challenge website, the program has reached 25 million people. Its goal is “making schools safer, more connected places where bullying and violence are replaced with kindness and respect, and where learning and teaching are awakened to their fullest.”