Board approves MOU to fund school-based prevention specialist using opioid-settlement dollars

Douglas County School District trustees voted unanimously to approve a memorandum of understanding that will fund a school-based prevention specialist using county opioid-settlement dollars.

Brooke Ady, Douglas County community services director, told the board the county will grant settlement funds to Partnership Douglas County, which will administer the money and oversee the prevention programming. ‘‘The partnership will oversee the funds that will then be given to the school district, and they will provide administrative oversight,’’ Ady said, describing how the arrangement is intended to work.

The specialist will be a district employee paid with Partnership-managed funds and assigned to work inside schools on prevention activities, Ady said. Trustees were told the role is education and prevention only — not therapy — and the worker will not be a licensed clinician. ‘‘It’s all numbers. There is no personal information. It’s all just data,’’ Ady said when explaining how the program will collect anonymized pre/post assessments and demographic information to measure program effects.

Trustees pressed staff on supervision and parental consent. Ady and other staff said administrative supervision and payroll functions will sit with the county or the school district (the MOU specifies the district will hire and provide benefits), while Partnership Douglas County will approve programming, ensure use of evidence‑based practices and collect program data. The board also received a clarification about participation: staff said parents would have to give permission — the specialist’s services will be provided through an opt‑in model.

Trustee questions focused on data privacy, funding mechanics and where the specialist would sit within district structures. Ady said some programs will use pre/post surveys and other anonymized measures to track learning and participation; the county will require reports to state offices that collect statewide program data. Trustees were also told the position is expected to be a one‑year contract renewable if settlement funding continues.

Trustee Melinda Miller made the motion to approve the MOU; Trustee Jansen seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Board discussion and the MOU outline several limits and guardrails: the specialist will not provide clinical therapy, programming will use evidence‑based prevention curricula, Partnership Douglas County will ensure implementation fidelity and the position is designed to be flexible so staff can adjust programming if local patterns (for example vaping or alcohol spikes) change. Ady said the county expects opioid‑settlement funds to be available for about 15 years and that the 2023 community needs assessment identified prevention as a recurring local priority.

The board did not adopt new district policy at the meeting; trustees directed staff to proceed under the MOU’s terms and under existing district hiring and oversight rules.

The MOU approval clears the path for Partnership Douglas County and the district to begin recruiting or designating the prevention specialist and to set up data reporting and program schedules ahead of the next school year.

Notes: The presentation and vote took place during the board’s regular meeting agenda item on interagency memoranda of understanding. No students or clinical services will be provided by the new position; the role is prevention education, data collection and coordination with school staff and community partners.