HENDRY COUNTY — Hendry County Schools officials said the district will pilot a grant-funded digital mental-health service next semester that allows students to text coaches supervised by licensed mental-health counselors.

Speaker 1 described the service as "a digital platform that allows students to text with coaches" and said coaches are "trained and supervised by licensed mental health counselors." Speaker 3 confirmed the pilot is supported by a grant and local business partners.

District staff said the pilot will be promoted with flyers and letters and that families will be able to opt out. Officials said the plan is to collect pilot data next semester and then decide whether to continue the service.

The announcement comes amid district comments that mental-health needs have risen "exponentially" and that the district has expanded related supports. A parent asked whether the platform enrollment would be automatic; the district said outreach will explain opt-out procedures and there will be an active push to inform families in January.

District leaders said they would bring more information to the upcoming board meeting and run the pilot as a time-limited evaluation funded by a grant; the results will determine whether the district continues the service.