Octorara hears proposal to place full-time clinician at primary learning center
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Summary
Effective School Solutions presented a proposal to place a full-time master’s-level clinician at Octorara’s primary learning center to serve 10–12 students with intensive mental and behavioral needs and provide family sessions, classroom push-in support and data-driven outcomes tracking.
Effective School Solutions outlined a proposal to place a full‑time master’s‑level clinician at Octorara’s primary learning center to support students with intensive mental and behavioral needs.
The proposal, presented by Mel, Director of District Partnerships for Effective School Solutions, described a model in which one clinician would carry a caseload of about 10–12 students, provide at-minimum weekly individual therapy, up to daily group therapy, and family sessions twice per month. Mel said the clinician would also provide classroom “push‑in” support and be available to respond therapeutically when a student becomes dysregulated so they can remain in class.
"We would be providing a full time master's level clinician," Mel said, explaining that the clinician would be supervised regionally and supported by the vendor’s quality and risk management staff to track outcomes such as attendance, disciplinary incidents, grades and therapeutic progress. Mel also said Effective School Solutions conducts a full biopsychosocial assessment on referred students and requires parental consent for treatment; an existing diagnosis is not required.
District staff placed the proposal in context, describing the services the district already provides. Mr. Hillebault summarized current supports — interventionists, school counselors, BCBAs (board certified behavior analysts), school psychologists, a school social worker, mental health specialists with caseloads of about 40 students each, and Communities In Schools staff — and said the vendor would be an additional, higher‑dose option for students who enter the district with limited school experience or unaddressed trauma. Hillebault said, "that meter is constantly spinning," describing ongoing demand for higher levels of support.
Presenters highlighted cost‑avoidance data: Effective School Solutions reported aggregate outcomes showing reductions in outplacement and chronic absenteeism, fewer disciplinary incidents, and at least a one‑letter grade improvement for many students served; presenters noted a Yale Child Study Center partnership that evaluated the program. District staff said outplacement can start at about $55,000 per year plus transportation, which they cited as one rationale for expanding in‑district supports.
Board members asked operational questions: whether the clinician would be licensed (Mel said clinicians are either fully licensed or required to pursue licensure while supervised), how caseloads would be determined (a collaborative student‑review process with school staff), and whether professional development beyond the vendor’s six hours per year would be available (Mel said additional PD could be arranged at additional cost).
No contract or formal vote on the proposal was taken at the meeting; presenters framed the item as a prospectus and invited follow‑up discussion and questions.
The district will consider how an outside clinician would dovetail with existing staff roles and whether to pursue a partnership in a future agenda item.
