The Atascadero Unified School District Board of Trustees approved a contract Tuesday to fund two wellness coaches at Atascadero Middle School and Atascadero High School, using county grant dollars that will not affect the district general fund.

Business Services staff said the district joined a county cohort to access a state‑funded initiative that places wellness coaches on campus. Because direct internal hires were not available, the district presented a contract with Effective School Solutions to provide contracted coaches while the district recruits and trains local candidates.

Darnell of Business Services said the contract amount equals the county grant and will therefore have “no impact to the general fund.” She said the state defines a certified wellness coach as an individual with an AA or BA in areas such as social work, human services, addiction studies, child development, psychology or sociology; the coaches provide targeted, lower‑level behavioral supports and refer students to counselors or community resources for services beyond their scope.

Trustees asked how students would be identified, how the coaches would be supervised and whether the positions could be sustained after the grant year. District staff said coaches would have an active caseload typically estimated at 40–60 students (an average caseload figure), would provide classroom presentations and short‑term interventions, and would be supervised on site by the school principal. Staff also described a state‑organized effort to bill Medi‑Cal for eligible services so the positions could become revenue‑sustaining if the program and billing were implemented successfully.

Trustees asked for a future report on program outcomes and fiscal sustainability. The board approved the contract on a roll‑call vote; one trustee recorded a “no” vote during the roll call.

Ending: District staff said they will return with regular reports on utilization, student contacts and progress toward Medi‑Cal billing and sustainability.