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Superintendent reports mental-health clinics, annual survey results and start-time work to Fayetteville-Manlius board
Summary
Superintendent presented capital project milestones, a distribution of a mental health brochure, plans to introduce Helio Health clinics, community survey results showing strong ratings for teaching and learning, and next steps for school start time and cell-phone policy discussions.
Under the superintendent's report, Dr. Tice updated the Board of Education on facility and student-support developments, community survey findings and several district committees' next steps.
Dr. Tice said the high school capital improvement project made progress over the holiday break and that a district mental-health brochure reached community mailboxes during recess. He reported the district is moving forward with Helio Health to provide school-based mental-health clinics at the high school and both middle schools and that the county will continue to be part of the network of services; Helio Health is expected to replace Arise as a provider for the district's clinic services.
School start-time committee work was ongoing: the committee plans one final meeting with administration this month, add faculty and staff in February and include students and families before the end of the school year, with the intent of making a start-time decision in early autumn. Dr. Tice said the committee intends to balance stakeholder input, building-level differences and practical constraints.
Dr. Tice presented community stakeholder survey results tied to the district's strategic plan. Respondents were largely district parents and guardians, most aged 30 to 49; the majority graded the quality of education "excellent" to "very good." The presentation included subgroup figures: 28% said district activities matched interests "extremely well," 40% said "well," and a 38.8% figure was reported for respondents saying they felt a sense of belonging. The survey showed teaching and learning and positive school environment as top priorities, with fiscal responsibility also important to respondents.
Discussion on cell-phone policy continued. Responses were mixed: some respondents favor a bell-to-bell ban, while others want students to retain access in case of emergency. Board members and administrators discussed options such as pouches, requiring phones to remain in backpacks or developing uniform building-level enforcement. The board agreed further review is needed; community relations, policy and mental-health committees will contribute to next steps and the district will weigh student, teacher and parent survey responses.
Dr. Tice also thanked staff and volunteers for district events, reported changes to DEI and mental-health leadership (noting an executive administrator leading community co-facilitators) and highlighted that the community relations committee and CAP Region BOCES are assisting on a website redesign.
