Bullitt County schools review proposed Astra Behavioral Health elementary treatment partnership

The Bullitt County Board of Education heard an informational presentation on a proposed partnership with Astra Behavioral Health to provide an intensive, school‑day behavioral program for elementary students.

Board members were told the proposed program would serve kindergarten through fifth‑grade students whose needs exceed what outpatient therapy can provide. Astra representatives said the model the district reviewed in another county serves up to 24 students at a time, with students receiving roughly a half‑day of academics and a half‑day of group and individual therapy. "We have a max of 24 students at a time. They are K through 5," Astra's Erica Hayes, director of school services, said. "Our program offers a half a day of academics and a half a day of group therapy. We also offer individual therapy and family therapy ... and medication management as well if needed."

The district presentation said the program seeks to reduce elementary‑level hospitalizations and out‑of‑home placements by providing intensive services while allowing students to return home each evening. Astra staff told the board the average program length at a comparable site ranged from about three to six months, with some students staying longer when clinically necessary. "In Breckenridge County, we see anywhere from 3 to 6 months," Hayes said. "But that also depends on [whether] the child has been hospitalized before and ongoing issues."

Astra's Danielle Mentor, executive administrative assistant, described the agency's scope of services and network: Astra began operations in 2014 and now operates multiple outpatient offices and several day‑treatment programs across the region. Mentor said Astra provides outpatient therapy, intensive outpatient services, medication management, and other specialty treatments. "We do traditional therapy services ... and we also do intensive outpatient programs," Mentor told the board.

District staff outlined how a local program might operate: students would maintain connection to their home school, ride the home‑school bus to a brief morning routine, be transported to the program for the day, and return to the home school at dismissal. Food service and transportation would be provided by the district; the presenter said $20,000 had been budgeted for supplemental materials and curriculum if the board decides to move forward. The board presentation also listed an estimated personnel cost line for the program: a dual‑certified teacher and a full‑time health instructional assistant, with the Astra clinical team providing therapists and community support staff. At budget discussion later in the meeting the program line appears in the draft as a combined classroom/staffing item of approximately $111,000.

Board members and Astra staff discussed payment and access. Astra representatives said services are billed to a student’s insurance when medically appropriate and that the agency will work with families and insurers to obtain coverage; staff said the district would seek grant or scholarship funding for families who cannot cover costs. "I collaborate with the child's insurance to get the services covered," Mentor said. The presenters also emphasized that the program is intended as treatment, not punishment, and that placement decisions would be based on clinical criteria rather than a principal unilaterally removing a child from class. "This is not a punishment," the district presenter said. "It is not an alternative school. Principals will not make decisions to send kids out of their room or out of their school. This is about a program that sees a need in the mental health world and it will meet criteria."

No formal board action was taken at the meeting; the presentation was informational and included budgetary figures staff asked the board to consider for next year’s budget process. Board members asked for additional data and follow‑up information; Astra offered to provide utilization statistics and program outcome metrics to the board on request.

The item will return for further consideration if the board chooses to pursue a contractual relationship and finalize location, transportation and funding details.