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Board hears mental-health staffing gaps and considers shared social-worker options
Summary
Trustees heard from the mental-health committee and staff that case loads have increased, ESSER-funded positions ended and a guidance-center social worker resigned; options under discussion include district partnerships to share a social worker and budgeting for a new position (salary+benefits estimated around $80,000).
The board received an update from its mental-health committee and district staff on growing caseloads and gaps in services after the loss of ESSER-funded positions and a partnership social worker.
Committee members and staff described overlapping services (guidance center, Keystone, counselors) but also “enormous gaps” in coverage that could leave students without needed support. "We don't want any students to fall through those gaps," a committee member said, summarizing the concern raised during conversations with therapists and staff. Trustees noted prior positions funded by ESSER or partner organizations had not been fully replaced when grant funding ended.
Staff described several possible approaches: continue to recruit for district hires (acknowledging hiring difficulty), pursue shared-service arrangements with neighboring districts to split the cost of a social worker, or explore targeted grant or partnership funding. A staff estimate put a typical social-worker salary-plus-benefits near $80,000; the district’s share if cost-shared was discussed in ballpark terms during the meeting so the board could assess feasibility.
Trustees agreed to continue the conversation and to consider short-term coverage and longer-term budget adjustments; they also said the district should prioritize reaching a staffable solution quickly because student needs are increasing.
