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Therapists, resident urge Garrard County school board to allow more than one in‑school mental‑health provider
Summary
At a Garrard County Board of Education meeting, Shelby Crisp, a CKCA mental‑health therapist, and a resident urged the board to reverse a policy that allows only one provider to deliver in‑school therapy, citing long wait lists and continuity-of-care concerns; the board said it will refer the matter to committee.
Shelby Crisp, a mental‑health therapist who identified herself as working in the community for six years at CKCA, told the Garrard County Board of Education she was asking the board to “reconsider the decision of allowing only 1 provider to treat our kids at school.” She said the policy risks breaking long‑term therapeutic relationships and leaves students on long wait lists.
Crisp said the middle school alone had “a wait list of over a 100 kids” last year and that some students face repeated disciplinary placements, psychiatric hospitalizations, and, in one case noted in testimony, a tragic death. “You may save an hour of education each week with this decision, but you risk a lifetime of consequences,” she said.
An unidentified resident who said they serve on a city council backed the plea, describing therapy continuity as life‑saving. “This consistency has been something that has saved my life,” the resident said, arguing that allowing external therapists to work on‑site during study halls, free periods or lunch would prevent students from having to choose between school and mental‑health care.
Presiding official (Speaker 1) thanked the commenters and said the topic was not on that night’s agenda but would be shared with the committee for further consideration. No formal action or vote on the provider policy was taken during the meeting.
The board did not set a timeline for committee review during the meeting; members said the issue would be placed on a future agenda if appropriate.
