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School-Student Problem Identification and Resolution of Issues Together (School-SPIRIT)

Lower Dauphin SPIRIT Program logo decorative

School-Student Problem Identification and Resolution of Issues Together (School-SPIRIT)

Details about the SPIRIT Program

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service delivered the School-Student Problem Identification and Resolution of Issues Together (School-SPIRIT) on Wednesday, September 20, at Lower Dauphin School, bringing together diverse student leaders to identify issues in their school community and develop solutions to address these issues. The program is facilitated by experts from state and federal agencies. 

What happens on the day of the School-SPIRIT Program?

The School-SPIRIT Program includes the following steps:

  • Student leaders are divided into groups based on commonalities for the first breakout session,
  • Volunteer facilitators use the guiding questions to identify positive aspects about the school community as well as issues impacting the school community,
  • Representatives from each small group present the issues their group discussed to the larger group,
  • Student leaders prioritize issues to resolve during the solutions development process,
  • Student leaders are divided into new groups and assigned issues to resolve,
  • Volunteer facilitators use the guiding questions to develop solutions,
  • Representatives from each small group present the solutions their group developed to the larger group,
  • SPIRIT Council members hold a short meeting at the end of the program to identify next steps.

What happens after the School-SPIRIT Program?

Following the School-SPIRIT Program, the Department of Justice completes the following:

  • Collects the issues and solutions developed by the diverse student leaders,
  • Produces the SPIRIT Report that lists the positives, issues, and solutions identified during the program. The report is shared with the student participants and school leaders,
  • Convenes the group to review the SPIRIT Report and begin working on implementing solutions, and
  • Supports student meetings with action planning approaches, including action plan templates, meeting agendas, and other tools.

Updated September 15, 2023

The Administration has met with the Department of Justice and with identified members of a planning group with the goal of bringing the SPIRIT program to the high school at the start of the 2023-24 school year.   

According to the Department of Justice, School-SPIRIT is a one-day, student-focused program which engages students, school administrators, teachers, school resource officers, and other school and community members in identifying issues impacting their school and developing and implementing solutions to resolve those issues.

SPIRIT Program Benefits

  • Develops student leadership skills by empowering students to identify and address conflicts in their school
  • Empowers students to solve issues in their school
  • Improves collaboration between students and other members of the school community
  • Brings diverse student groups together to discover commonalities and build mutual respect

SPIRIT Program Outcomes

  • Enhances student problem-solving skills by applying a structured process to identify issues and develop solutions
  • Assists student and school leaders to develop a customized action plan that aims to improve the school community and serves as a roadmap to implement tangible solutions
  • Creates a student-led SPIRIT Council, which works closely with school leaders to implement solutions developed during the program and increases the school’s capacity to address future conflicts

Updated Summer 2023