Board approves Hope Squad peer-support program after debate over timing and data

The Montgomery Township Board of Education voted Sept. 16 to approve the Hope Squad peer-support program as part of an omnibus adoption of action items at the board’s regular meeting.

Administrators and community members told the board that Hope Squad is a research-informed, peer-support program that trains students to recognize signs of distress among classmates and to use the QPR model — question, persuade, refer — to connect peers to adult help. A family member whose niece died by suicide described Hope Squad as a program that “is not just suicide prevention. It is about total mental health,” and urged the board to approve it.

Why it matters: Board members split over whether to approve Hope Squad immediately or to table the item so new board members could review data and CDC guidance about peer-support programs. Supporters said the program aligns with the district strategic plan goal on student wellness and is fully funded for the first two years, giving the district time to evaluate fit and sustainability. Opponents and some newer board members sought more evidence about program selection, student selection for membership and monitoring of potential burdens on participating students.

Administrators said the program had been presented previously to the ACI (Assessing Curriculum and Instruction) committee and that the district plans training and local adaptation. “We have 2 years to ensure that it’s a fit, to customize it to fit our schools and our students,” a district representative said.

Board action and votes: A motion to table items 2.2 (a curriculum item) and 3.5 (Hope Squad) was moved and seconded but did not carry on roll call. Later the board approved an omnibus motion to adopt agenda items 1.1 through 4.4, which included the Hope Squad program. The omnibus approval drew several abstentions and recorded no votes on some individual items, but the board’s agenda motion carried and the program was authorized to proceed. The district said Hope Squad will be funded for two years without drawing on recurring local taxpayer funds in the initial period and that administrators will return with implementation details and monitoring plans.

Public comment during the meeting included both strong endorsements of Hope Squad from families and staff and calls for more data and safeguards from other board members and members of the community. Several board members said they wanted clear measures and an evaluation plan to report whether the program meets intended goals and to monitor potential burnout in student participants.

Next steps: District staff said they will provide implementation details to the board and community, including selection and training procedures for student members and evaluation metrics for year-one and year-two reviews.