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Board approves state-mandated school mental health improvement plan; district notes counselor vacancies and training requirements
Summary
Maria Ballard presented an updated school mental health improvement plan required by state guidance; the board approved the plan, which includes staff training requirements and a suicide-risk screening process; Ballard and others noted counselor vacancies and that some materials could be posted or sent to parents on request.
The board unanimously approved the state‑mandated school mental health improvement plan for Catawba County Schools after a presentation by Maria Ballard.
Ballard said the updated submission follows the state-developed template and includes four documents: the state board policy based on recent legislation (updated Sept. 2024), the district improvement plan on the new template, an employee mental health training program (six hours at hire and two hours annually thereafter), and the district suicide-risk screening process (contact information updated). She said the plan will run through 06/30/2026 and the district will revisit goals annually and the plan every five years as required.
Board members asked about staffing: Ballard acknowledged vacancies in positions that support mental health work and said the district has a memorandum of understanding with contracted providers to deliver services; she said currently only one counselor position remained unfilled and the district reported an increase in applications. The board discussed distributing informational materials and Ballard said the district can provide posters and handouts and could post resources on the district website if the board desires.
Separately, Lee Miller requested the board approve $31,200 from the GEAR UP grant to cover a North Carolina new teacher support program (university instructional coaches for new middle‑school teachers). Miller said the funds are reimbursable through Appalachian State University and typically are reimbursed within about two months; the board approved that funding request by motion.
The meeting record shows the mental health plan and the North Carolina new teacher support program invoice/funding were both approved by board voice/hand vote.
