Mid‑Del approves short‑term elementary "Reset" program and hires mental health specialist to staff it

The Midwest City‑Del City board on Tuesday approved a new short‑term elementary "Reset" program intended to support students showing recurring Tier‑2 behavioral needs and also approved hiring a licensed mental health specialist to staff the program.

Dr. Broyles introduced the item and district staff described the model as a brief, targeted placement designed to help students regulate, receive social‑emotional instruction and return to their home school. The program will initially serve elementary students (K–5) in short cycles: staff described a five‑week placement that begins focused on social‑emotional and mental‑health supports (about 80% of Week 1) and shifts toward academics in later weeks so students can transition back to their home classroom with instructional continuity.

Why it matters: District presenters said the program targets students who are on the "bubble" of more intensive interventions — those who do not necessarily require special education but who need extra, short‑term support to remain successful in their regular classroom. The district framed the Reset program as an intervention aimed at reducing escalation to more intensive placements.

Program details presented to the board include: small classroom sizes (target 8–12 students per cycle), three classrooms at the initial site, non‑repeatable cycles for individual students, and an annual service goal of roughly 90–120 students if capacity and logistics permit. Staff said principals will identify candidates, secure family consent and submit applications that document prior classroom interventions before a student is referred to the Reset placement.

Staffing and operations: The board approved the position of a mental health specialist to lead clinical work for the Reset program. The board approved Abigail Poulin for that mental health specialist position; attendees were told Poulin is a licensed marriage and family therapist with prior school‑based and community therapy experience. The board vote to hire Poulin was unanimous.

Transportation and logistics: Staff said students will be transported to the program site and that the district will coordinate parent engagement and principal touchpoints before and after the placement; the district will pilot three coaching days with embedded teacher coaching and maintain a shared resource drive to support teacher interventions prior to referral.

Board reaction and oversight: Board members expressed support for the initiative and asked for future progress updates; one board member suggested revisiting the program after a year to assess outcomes and capacity. Several board members described the program as an opportunity to equip teachers with ready‑made interventions so students receive support earlier in the tiered system.

Vote and next steps: The board voted unanimously to hire the recommended mental health specialist and to proceed with the Reset program pilot. Staff said they will return to the board with implementation details and a year‑one evaluation plan.