Forsyth County Schools merges safety and student support under new Department of Student Support, presents staffing and program data

Forsyth County Schools leaders told the Board of Education on Feb. 18 that the district has consolidated school safety and student support functions into a single Department of Student Support to coordinate physical, social and emotional student safety.

Todd Shirley, who introduced the update, said the restructured department brings counseling, nursing, social work, student advocacy specialists (SAS), resource officers and other teams “under one umbrella” so staff can focus on students’ safety and connection to learning.

Sarah Vanish, introduced on the record as the director of student support, said the department’s priority is ensuring students “feel safe physically, socially, and emotionally.” She outlined programs that now operate together, including PBIS (positive behavioral interventions and supports), MTSS-aligned services, counseling and nursing.

District leaders gave several program metrics during the presentation: the social work team has carried out 528 attendance or dropout-prevention interventions so far this school year; secondary schools that implemented PBIS saw a 3% decline in behavior incidents; 76% of elementary counselors lead PBIS teams at their schools; the district has held six staff and community suicide-intervention or mental-health trainings (including ASIST, Signs of Suicide, SafeTALK and Youth Mental Health First Aid); and student advocacy specialists are following just over 1,700 students for additional support.

Steve Hahn, director of school safety and discipline, described a “circle of support” for students and families during crises and said first responders and district teams coordinate to provide immediate and long-term services. Hahn told the board that staff prepare for both the immediate response and months and years of follow-up where needed.

Todd Shirley used an extended analogy in his remarks to emphasize staff commitment, saying the district’s counselors, nurses, SASs, SROs and social workers “charge this valley to clear the path” for other departments so students can learn. Shirley also shared a recent text he received from a student thanking an SAS for intervention that, the student wrote, had prevented self-harm.

Board members and the superintendent thanked the teams on the record; the transcript records expressions of appreciation and the chair indicated possible “bold action” in coming weeks, but no formal policy change or board vote on staffing levels was recorded in the meeting minutes.

The presentation emphasized coordination across roles rather than a discrete new spending action; several figures given by presenters indicate expanded tracking of interventions and continued training and staffing needs.