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Commission approves opioid‑settlement funds for prevention training and materials for school program
Summary
Commissioners approved use of opioid‑settlement funds to pay tuition for two staff to take a prevention training and to purchase classroom/workbook materials to pilot a prevention curriculum in the school in‑school‑suspension program.
Ramsey County Commissioners voted to spend opioid‑settlement money to support a prevention training and purchase youth workbooks to pilot a school‑based prevention curriculum.
Cindy, the county’s tobacco‑prevention coordinator (who said she is also managing three grants), presented the proposal and asked the commission to approve tuition for two people to take a designated prevention trainer course and to authorize purchasing an initial batch of youth workbooks for in‑school‑suspension (ISS) use. She described the training as a two‑lesson program suitable for ISS and said she had superintendent approval for a prevention mentor to attend the training and assist with targeted delivery to students in ISS.
Commission action: A commissioner moved to approve using opioid‑settlement funds to buy 200 workbooks and to pay tuition for two people to attend the training; the motion was seconded and carried with an aye vote.
Why it matters: The program is designed to provide prevention education to middle‑ and high‑school students who enter ISS or are identified as needing targeted supports. Cindy said the materials and training would be used initially in ISS and could expand if the pilot is successful. She emphasized that parents and schools have shown some resistance to broad rollouts, so the pilot is targeted and limited in scope.
Costs and procurement: Cindy described per‑unit workbook pricing tiers (she quoted a $22 per‑book price for a 200‑unit purchase and lower per‑unit prices for larger orders) and estimated the combined cost of training and materials at roughly $6,300–$6,500; she asked that the county fund the initial purchase and two training slots from the opioid‑settlement fund. The motion approved the purchase and tuition from that fund. Cindy and county staff said they will return with an implementation plan describing distribution and evaluation.
Next steps: Staff and Cindy will coordinate with school officials and the prevention mentor to deliver training and to pilot the program in ISS before wider distribution; commissioners requested a follow‑up report on costs, distribution and results.
