Desert Sands outlines bullying and suicide‑prevention work, parent workshops and reporting options
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Summary
Counselors and the Student Assistance Program described district policies, three reporting routes (Say Something tip line, direct reporting, and RFA online referrals), new DBT trainings for staff, partnerships with community providers and mindful‑parenting workshops aimed at preventing bullying and youth suicide.
Brian Boyd, a member of the district’s Student Assistance Program (SAP), told trustees that prevention begins with education and connection and highlighted the district’s definitions and policies for bullying and suicide prevention. “Prevention starts with education, connection, and creating a culture where everyone feels safe, supported, and valued,” Boyd said.
Boyd reviewed district policy citations used in the presentation (BP 5131.2 and BP 5141.52) and explained three ways community members can report concerns: the anonymous Say Something tip line, direct reporting to a trusted adult, and the Request for Assistance (RFA) system on the district website. He described district staff training, including additional dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) trainings for mental‑health staff this year.
School counselors from several campuses described site‑level work: Carlos Huerta (James Earl Carter Elementary) outlined classroom lessons, lunch‑time and small‑group counseling, and partnerships for referrals; Joshua Alvarez (Thomas Jefferson Middle School) described wellness centers, SEL check‑ins and restorative practices. The presenters also noted a partnership with a nonprofit, Positivity, that provided grant funding for parent engagement workshops and free childcare and dinner at sessions.
The district emphasized that prevention work extends beyond school buildings, and trustees thanked staff for the presentation and asked for additional materials to share with parents. The presentation included references to community referral partners (Care Solace, Bridal Kids, Daybreak Health) and to school recognition for James Earl Carter as an Educational Resource Partnership Honorable School.
What’s next: Trustees endorsed follow up communications to parents and asked staff to continue providing implementation data and workshop dates.
