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Parents and board split over Care Solace behavioral‑health data agreement; concerns raised about privacy, third‑party platforms
Summary
The board considered a Care Solace data‑use agreement to connect students to behavioral‑health services; parents and community members raised privacy concerns and urged the board to require parental consent and stricter data protections.
The San Ysidro School District considered a third‑party data‑use agreement with Care Solace to provide behavioral‑health referral services for students. Public commenters — including school‑site council and planning‑group representatives — objected, saying the contract would give outside companies access to sensitive student data, allow direct communication between minors and third‑party providers, and might include platforms such as the Trevor Project.
Why it matters: Commenters argued that some third‑party platforms allow private conversations with minors and have been the subject of parental safety concerns; they urged the district not to sign away student privacy or sidestep parental consent. Several commenters said the district already has trained staff and local programs to support students and asked that services remain local and transparent.
Board discussion and vote: Board discussion included questions about data protections and provider credentials. One board member said they would vote no; another said they would abstain. The transcript shows the item was brought to a vote and that multiple board members spoke for and against the contract; the meeting record in the provided excerpt indicates the motion passed with recorded responses in the meeting audio/transcript (the speaker who said they would vote no also urged cancellation if risks materialize). The transcript does not include a full roll‑call list of individual votes tied to member names in the excerpt provided.
Follow up and concerns: Opponents asked the district to clarify parental notification and consent processes, to publish data‑sharing protections and to confirm which third‑party partners (and which features such as anonymous chats) would be accessible through the program. Supporters argued that Care Solace can help connect students quickly to services, but the transcript shows strong parental concern about privacy and the inclusion of third‑party platforms that allow private, anonymous chats.
