PPS midyear report: mental‑health partnerships expanded, Medicaid billing restored and 210 athletes signed for Special Olympics

Dr. Hennessy presented a midyear report from the district’s Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) department, outlining program improvements and partnerships intended to strengthen student well‑being and services.

Dr. Hennessy described four pillars—student well‑being, instructional supports, family and community partnerships, and systems excellence. He said the district trained administrative staff in the Columbia Lighthouse Project, an evidence‑based suicide‑prevention initiative, and that the district’s ongoing partnership with the Office of Mental Health now supports an on‑site satellite program at Goshen High School and was approved to add a middle‑school satellite next September.

On operations, Dr. Hennessy said PPS had received renewal approval to begin Medicaid billing and expected to bill back to July 1 to improve reimbursement and compliance. He also described a shift to paperless PPS communication, assistive‑technology training with Orange‑Ulster BOCES, and collaborations with the Center for Discovery to expand professional development on executive functioning and behavior supports.

The report included a count of 210 Special Olympics athletes registered for the district’s June 6 elementary event—about 30 more than the previous year—and administration invited community sponsorships (businesses were asked to contact Dr. Hendershot directly).

Board members praised the partnerships and the potential to expand mental‑health services into the middle school; administration framed Medicaid billing and training work as intended to strengthen compliance and reimbursement without cutting services.