Student Services Director Highlights Title IX Updates, Mental-Health Grants and RISE Alternative Program

Destiny Field, the district’s Student Services Director, briefed the board on the scope of her office and recent accomplishments.

Field said her office oversees Title IX/VI harassment and discrimination work, McKinney-Vento services for homeless and refugee families, Title III for English-language learners, school-based mental-health services, and the RISE alternative-education program (Reaching Independence Through Support and Empowerment). She noted website and policy updates to make reporting harassment/discrimination easily reachable ("two clicks" from the site), training and legal-counsel coordination on policy updates, and ongoing grant-writing. Field reported the RISE program has already helped 10 students earn diplomas this year, emphasizing credit recovery and individualized pathways.

Board members thanked Field and acknowledged the significance of student-services work, with the superintendent noting those roles often go unseen despite substantive impact. Field said the program team meets regularly with counselors and state support partners to strengthen school-based mental-health services and LCSW implementation.

The board did not take immediate action; members expressed appreciation and asked for continued updates.