Parents, students and educators urge Hamilton County board to reinstate Centerstone school mental‑health services

Dozens of parents, students, teachers and mental‑health professionals urged the Hamilton County Board of Education at a work session to reinstate a 10‑year memorandum of understanding with Centerstone, saying the termination last month removed licensed clinicians who provided school‑based therapy to thousands of students.

The appeals came during a public‑comment period organized by topic at the board's work session. Speakers on multiple sides described the mental‑health consequences of the board's August vote to end the Centerstone MOU and pressed the board both for service continuity and clearer, more deliberate transition procedures.

Supporters of the board's August decision said outside providers can advance ideological content and that parents should retain primary authority over children's care. "Centerstone's own agreement states it will only inform parents as necessary. That is unacceptable," said Gail Green, a resident who spoke under the board's public‑comment rules. "Parents must always be fully informed about any counseling or mental‑health interventions involving their children."

Many teachers, former administrators and clinicians urged the board to reverse course. "Centerstone's counselors provided consistent daily support to students who face challenges far…