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Parents, clinicians urge school committee to preserve SEL staff amid proposed cuts
Summary
Multiple parents, clinicians and students urged Lynn Public Schools officials to preserve social-emotional learning (SEL) clinical staff after the district circulated proposals that would reduce SEL services as part of budget-balancing measures.
Dozens of parents, clinicians and students told the Lynn School Committee at its March 27 meeting that proposed reductions to the district’s social-emotional learning staff would harm students and could increase costly out-of-district placements.
Speakers said clinical staff provide crisis intervention, suicide screening and ongoing therapy that keep students in school and out of more expensive placements. "Cuts to the SEL department won't make mental health struggles disappear. They'll only leave more students without the help they need," said Michelle Sheehy, a Marshall Middle School parent.
The public comments came during the meeting’s open-mic period, which the committee reserves for brief public remarks. Several clinicians described the volume of work they handle: Jennifer Fucci, representing the district…
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