Henrico schools report expanded mental-health services, large immunization outreach and new student IDs ahead of Aug. 18 start

Henrico County School Board members heard a detailed back-to-school readiness briefing Aug. 14 that outlined expanded mental-health services, a large immunization outreach and operational changes the division says will be in place when students return Aug. 18.

Dr. Leslie Hughes, chief of learning for Henrico County Public Schools, told the board the division partnered with the Virginia Department of Health and the Henrico Health Department to host immunization clinics and "now we have over 5,400 students that have been immunized," with three additional on-site clinics planned for the first three days of school. She said staff will continue outreach to families to meet state-required immunization standards.

The presenters described several mental-health additions. "The opening of a free part time mental health clinic at the Oak, three licensed mental-health professionals providing outpatient therapy and select services in elementary schools," Dr. Hughes said, and added that services will be available by appointment on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Families were directed to the HCPS website and to contact Henrico Area Mental Health at (804) 727-8515 for referrals.

School leaders also announced expanded therapy-animal visits. "Beginning this year all HCPS schools will have the opportunity to request regular or scheduled therapy dogs visit directly from Pet Partners," Dr. Hughes said, adding that principals will receive guidance to integrate visits into school-climate strategies.

Operational changes highlighted included a new roll-out of Lenovo laptops for high-school students and staff, and a second year for the student smart ID program. Presenters said student smart IDs "will be issued at no cost to families at the beginning of the year," and that the division's attendance pilots using IDs saved staff time and improved efficiency.

The division reported staffing improvements: all classrooms and bus routes are staffed and 100% of frontline cafeteria positions are filled. The board praised the hiring progress and the transportation team's ability to avoid double-runs on bus routes.

On safety, the presenters said this is the third year of weapon-screening at secondary schools and the second year for elementary schools; the district now employs 157 school security officers, including seven newly added positions at the secondary level.

The presentation also included a small meal-price increase: breakfast will rise 25 cents to $1.75 and lunch 10 cents to $3.00, while 49 schools will continue to provide free meals through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Families will receive school-specific registration and reduced-price application details via ParentSquare. Presenters urged families to download ParentSquare for multilingual communications and EduLog for real-time bus tracking.

Board members asked for clarifications during a question-and-answer period. Mister Young confirmed with staff that the clinics are free. Miss Atkins asked for clarity that new laptops are for high-school students only; staff said older devices are taken as surplus and sold, with proceeds reinvested into technology projects. Mister Irving and others pressed for more granular guidance on cell-phone enforcement and retrieval procedures; presenters responded that specific procedures vary by school but that central guidance and local plans exist.

The division closed the briefing by saying staff and central office leaders will provide additional granular guidance on building-level procedures as requested by board members.

The board did not take a formal vote on the back-to-school presentation; it was provided for information and followed by questions.