The Putnam County School Board on July 24 approved an emergency item certifying the district's mental-health application and plan and accepted a $10,000 donation to the counseling department from Putnam St. John's United Way.

Board members voted unanimously to add the time-sensitive mental-health application as an emergency agenda item and then approved the application itself, which staff described as a required certification consistent with statutory requirements. The emergency item was introduced on the floor because staff described it as time sensitive.

Board members and staff credited counseling and student-services staff for ongoing work. The meeting record notes that the counseling department will use the funds to expand services for students and families at the start of the school year. Staff identified Kimberly Simmons as head of mental health and Diana Drew as student services director; both were named as contacts who have been invited to speak about the district's mental-health services at external conferences.

The approval included certification language that the mental-health plan meets statutory requirements, and trustees voted to accept the Putnam St. John's United Way check for $10,000 that will support counseling activities, early screening and group sessions when classes begin. Trustees described the program and the district's screening instruments as part of suicide-prevention and broader student support efforts.

Ending: The emergency approval allows the district to submit the application and expend the donated funds alongside federal and district programs that provide outreach and counseling services; staff said the program will run concurrent with existing federal programs and that district representatives will present follow-up details to the board as services are implemented.