On Tuesday, it was Kathleen Cote’s turn to testify at the Killingly School Board’s 10-4b hearing. Cote, former director of mental health, student well-being and family engagement for Killingly Public Schools, took the stage on the fourth day of the hearing.
The 10-4b complaint was filed by Killingly parents who allege the district is not doing enough to protect students’ mental health.
Ms. Cote testified that the former school board’s denial of a mental health center for students influenced the attitude and behavior of the Killingly High School administrator and prevented her from effectively performing her duties. Cote also expressed her support for student health services currently in place in middle and high schools.
Attorney Michael McKeon, representing the State Board of Education, questioned Mr. Cote, as did attorney Andrew Feinstein, who is representing the residents involved, and attorney Patrick Noonan, the district’s new legal representative.
Cote expresses support for health center
Cote left the school district in February 2024 to operate a private practice as a licensed professional counselor. She started the practice in November 2023 while working at Killingly Public Schools. Cote said she left the district because she felt she didn’t have enough support, couldn’t have the impact she wanted, and because her private practice became busy. Ta.
Mr. Cote joined the Killingly School District in 2021 after serving as Norwich Free Academy alternative high school principal for nine years and in several teaching positions across the state.
Robert Angeli was the superintendent when he was first hired as director of student services. Cote said the two supported Killingly because they were from a school district with a student health center.
Angeli asked for a grant to set up a health center at the school, but was denied by the board. Angeli’s three-year superintendent contract was not renewed by the Killingly School Board at the end of the 2022-23 school year.
Cote respects the Killingly School Board, but “when I started in this district, the board had an appalling attitude,” which influenced the building management at Killingly High School. gave.
At one point, Killingly High School administrators asked her to leave a meeting with the school counselor that was held shortly after the student’s death, she said.
“I had to do this, but I didn’t feel like I could do it,” she said.
Cote said he has no doubt that people were trying to do what was best for students, but that people disagreed on what was best.
Maintain local health resources
The original proposal would have contracted with Generations Family Health Center for Killingly Public Schools, a well-regarded organization, but the court said the district would need to continue working with Community Health Resources (CHR). he said.
Cote testified that she and others began working at CHR before the start of this semester. CHR works professionally and flexibly with school districts to expand the number of days they can serve high school students.
Continuous care is also important. Some students were already using his CHR for mental health services, so the family moved services to the school.
CHR plans to expand its services to all Killingly public schools.
Killingly Public Schools has a number of its own certified and licensed mental health professionals who must continue to be the “drivers” in decision-making regarding the mental health of our students.
“We have a lot of people in this district with a lot of experience,” she said.
How the board got here
In April 2022, Killingly parents filed a 10-4b complaint with the State Board of Education. The complaint was made after the Killingly School Board denied a grant to Generations Family Health to establish a school-based mental health center.
The first hearing on the complaint was held on November 15, 2023. Subsequent public hearings were held on November 30th and December 13th. The January hearing was postponed as the Killingly School Board sought new legal representation.
The school board wanted to work with community health centers (CHCs) because of better online reviews and parent opt-in requirements. CHC withdrew and the Killingly School Board worked with Community Health Resources for the same reason, then-Vice Chair Kelly Martin said at the first hearing.
Superintendent Susan Nash-Dietzel testified at the first hearing that the district is responding to students’ mental health needs, including programs to prevent bullying and absenteeism.
Nash-Dietzel was also asked about the school board’s response to the investigation by the Southeast Regional Action Council. In a survey conducted in December 2021, 449 students were surveyed and 28% of respondents reported considering self-harm, 18.2% of students intentionally harmed themselves, and 14.7% committed suicide. He reported that he seriously considered trying. The board established a special committee in September 2022, but the board did not specifically meet with her about her findings.
Killingly conducted research to tailor school services to the needs of students. The survey also asked about students’ access to and use of alcohol, tobacco, and recreational drugs. Nash Dietzel said counseling and vaping programs were used to address the needs.
next step
The next hearing is scheduled for April 16th. After the hearing, Cote, Noonan and Nash-Dietzel declined requests from The Bulletin for further comment.
