Mental health has become a major issue for school systems across the country, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lee County Schools will be implementing youth mental health programs at both high schools in the fall, said Trisha Mazzola, mental health coordinator for the district.
LCS will be the first district in the state to implement the program in every high school, she said.
Mazzola told the committee that 64 per cent of young people admitted to taking part in self-harm in the past year.
He said several students in the district’s public schools attempted suicide last year, including one elementary school student, one middle school student and two high school students.
Superintendent Chris Dossenbach said the district used Calhoun Services part-time for mental health in the 2023-24 school year but will instead use two “in-house” employees full-time next year.
Mazzola said she and Dennis Duke are the clinicians. Last year, the pair saw 67 students, while Calhoun Services saw 43. Mazzola said either she or Duke will be helping students.
The site offers calming spaces, wildlife cameras, colouring/creativity, sounds/music, puzzles/games, guided practice and visual relaxation.
A mental health resource fair is also planned for next school year in collaboration with the community, she said.
“This is sorely needed,” board chairman Ed Davidson said.
The board unanimously approved spending $170,000 to add the middle and high schools to a federal program that provides free breakfast and lunch to all students.
Last year, the board voted to approve the program at the city’s elementary schools.
Board member Alan Rummel said the $170,000 cost will be mitigated because the district is obligated by state law to pay $63,000 in unpaid lunch fees from last year. After subtracting that amount, the cost comes to about $107,000.
Additionally, sales of supplemental foods in schools recently resumed after COVID-19, he said. Overall, “I think we’ll end up in the black” because of the profits from supplemental food sales, Rummel said, noting that the study was conducted by Director of Child Nutrition Amanda Cagle.
The board voted 5-1 to approve attorney-client agreements with three law firms in a lawsuit against social media companies for allegedly harming students, with Chris Guster voting against. Guster did not give a reason for his vote, but was among the council members who voted 4-3 last month against joining the lawsuit.
The three law firms are Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP of Kansas City, Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles LLP of Atlanta, and Gozza & Honnold LLP of Overland Park, Kansas.
Board member Alan Rummel voted against approving the proposed policy that would require varying quotas for hiring contractors. Guster, Davidson and Shelley Lynn Womack joined him in voting to repeal the policy for further consideration. Voting against were Bowen, Patrick Kelly and Jamie Laude.
The board also approved the board meeting schedule for the upcoming school year. Womack suggested not holding regular meetings in August, November and February for various reasons, but the board did not agree.
Kelly said the public expects transparency. “We have an obligation to the public to sit here every month,” he said.
The board will hold a special meeting on end-of-year finances on June 28 at 5 p.m.
