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Board reviews school counseling plan and options to contract for school psychologists
Summary
At the Dec. 3 planning meeting Central York SD staff reviewed the three‑year school counseling plan, shared committee feedback on social‑emotional programming and CTE coordination, and discussed contracting with Soliant Health to fill school‑psychologist vacancies while recruitment continues.
District staff presented the school counseling plan and committee feedback, then discussed temporary contracting options to address a shortage of school psychologists.
Dr. Yucheff, who returned the plan to the board after an advisory‑committee review, said the document itself has not changed since November but highlighted recommendations: add more emphasis on friendship‑management and prosocial skills for younger students, clarify counselor roles across elementary, middle and high levels, strengthen communication about CTE programs, and elevate the role of the workforce‑readiness coordinator at the high school. "We had a really, a really, very positive, very powerful committee meeting here a few weeks ago," he said, summarizing committee input and noting that students were included in advisory conversations.
Board members asked why Panther Pathways and Laurel Life supports were not explicitly listed under K–6 counselor duties. Dr. Yucheff explained Laurel Life classrooms have embedded therapists and separate supervision and that counselors support Panther Pathway students while special‑education supervisors and behavior coaches play coordinating roles; the transcript records staff describing differences in staffing and responsibilities by level.
On related student‑services staffing, Dr. Yucheff introduced an agreement under consideration with Soliant Health to provide contracted school psychologists while the district continues recruitment. He said Soliant’s hourly rates (based on experience) roughly fall within the previously used range and cited a range of about $85 to $110 per hour compared with prior stepping‑stone contract rates of $95 to $100 per hour. He also confirmed the district pays only for services actually provided; as one board member noted, the district does not pay until a contractor is working in the district.
No final contract vote for Soliant was recorded at the planning meeting; administration expects to bring agreements forward for board action as needed. The counseling plan itself remains on the agenda for final action on the Dec. 8 regular meeting.
