Tiverton committee hears diversion program presentation as counselor reports surge in student referrals

The Tiverton School Committee received an update on the district’s diversion program, an alternative to out‑of‑school suspension that pairs students and families with trained counselors to address vaping, marijuana and other substance use.

Student assistance counselor Kelsey Vasconcellos described the program as engagement‑focused: “The goal of the diversion program ... is to meet them where they're at, to make them feel heard, to make them feel comfortable about talking about substance use,” she told the committee. Vasconcellos said her caseload at the high school rose from about 118 students to 122 within two months and that marijuana cartridge use has increased recently compared with prior years when nicotine vaping was more common.

Vasconcellos and administrators noted a 20% increase in peer and self referrals and a 35% increase in students identified as using substances at the high school compared with prior reporting periods. Board members asked whether the rise reflected increased use or improved reporting; presenters said both factors are likely at work, including better continuity of counseling staff which builds students’ trust.

Committee members asked for follow‑up data, comparisons with nearby districts and repeated reporting over the year to determine whether the spike represents a sustained trend that would require broader intervention. Administrators said they coordinate with the Tiverton Prevention Coalition and that community programs (Hidden in Plain Sight and others) support prevention and outreach.