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Bosti elementary opens a short-duration "Serenity Space" for students with anxiety; district outlines supervision and scope
Summary
Administrators described a pilot "Serenity Space" at Bosti Elementary meant to give brief opportunities for students in grades 2–5 to decompress under supervision. District officials said the space is staffed by aides or other supervised adults and is intended for short periods, not as replacement for formal mental-health services.
District administrators described a new Serenity Space at Bosti Elementary School intended as a brief, supervised place for some students in upper elementary grades to decompress when experiencing anxiety or sensory overload.
Dr. Joseph Centimore, the district superintendent, said the principal, shared-decision team, social workers and psychologists worked to design the space. "They looked to create a space where, you know, mostly for the grades like 2 through 5 ... to give them an opportunity to utilize the space for a couple of minutes," Centimore said.
Assistant Superintendent Christina Poppy added that the space is structured and overseen by school staff. "That does need to be supervision," she said, noting that supervision could be an aide or a teaching assistant. Officials emphasized it is not intended as a substitute for formal counseling; rather it is a brief chance to practice calming strategies.
Parents and board members raised questions about who would be present with students in the room and whether the district would communicate placements to families. Centimore and Poppy said protocols are in place and that the elementary principal and social workers helped draft operating procedures. Several trustees encouraged clearer public explanation of the space’s purpose and time limits after images and brief descriptions circulated on social media.
Ending: Administrators said the Serenity Space pilot at Bosti will continue under existing supervision protocols; staff will refine communications with families and consider whether similar arrangements are appropriate at other schools.
