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Board hears Goal 5 update: Hazel Health virtual visits surge, district expands resiliency and PolkRise college‑navigator work
Summary
District staff reported strong uptake in Hazel Health telehealth and mental‑health visits, a new district resiliency coordinator and resiliency coaches, and PolkRise support for first‑generation, high‑achieving students; board members pressed for site‑level utilization data and communications to families.
Deputy staff presented Goal 5 of Polk Schools’ strategic plan — the district’s “whole child” priorities — highlighting Hazel Health telehealth, a new resiliency initiative, and PolkRise college‑navigator programming.
Presenters said virtual Hazel Health usage increased from about 1,219 mental‑health virtual visits in its first year to 5,759 in 2024–25, saving classroom instructional time (presenters reported more than 10,000 hours saved in 23–24 by avoiding student checkouts). The district noted nearly all schools use Hazel Health and that the service provides both physical and mental health tele‑visits that can reduce instructional loss.
On resiliency (objective 5.2), staff said Polk created a K‑12 resiliency coordinator by repurposing an existing counseling position to develop resources and training and to recruit resiliency coaches for schools. The presenters said they had multiple coaches trained, others awaiting clearance, and dozens expressing interest, and described how resiliency standards were being embedded into existing classroom activities.
PolkRise (objective 5.3), the district’s enterprise program for first‑generation, low‑income high achievers, reported cohort expansion (now serving grades 6–11 with a 6–12 cohort planned next year), examples of students placed in college programs and leadership opportunities, and work by college navigators to expose students and families to campus visits.
Board members asked for disaggregated, site‑level data, utilization metrics that account for enrollment growth, and whether Hazel Health rates and service access could be renegotiated if a school’s utilization declined. Staff replied the board will not see the detailed annual evaluation this summer (the board previously approved a two‑year extension), but staff will provide an end‑of‑year summary of use and utilization and confirm that future budget choices will reflect enrollment and utilization patterns.
What’s next: Staff will provide end‑of‑year Hazel Health utilization reports and incorporate board feedback on communicating programs to families; presenters said they are working to centralize outreach materials and build accessible web landing pages for family use.
