Director of Student Services outlines teen center plan and Connection Center results

During the superintendent's report segment, the Director of Student Services (Destiny) gave a multi-part presentation on counseling initiatives, program reassignments and a proposed teen center located in the Student Services Building. She said two responsibilities (adult education and an 18–22 program) were moved under student services, and that school-counseling duties and the Check & Connect program will be transitioned to another staff member to make room for the new efforts.

"We are really hoping to revitalize our back room in the Student Services Building as a new teen center that will have a full kitchen, a laundry facility, a shower and also be able to house prom dresses that have been donated," Destiny said, laying out an operational vision for after-school supports. She asked the board to consider a walkthrough and noted some donors had verbally promised seed funding but that formal bids and a summer allocation would be needed to start construction.

Destiny also reviewed counseling pilot results and metrics from the Connection Center: Morgan Middle School used wellness-room data to guide interventions and reported an 80% increase in skill-building for targeted students; the Connection Center served 161 students this year and "all of them experienced at least a 60% improvement upon departure from the wellness room," she said. Board members asked about monitoring and parent notification; Destiny clarified the Connection Center is a timed, phone-free check-in space and that frequent users are referred to counselors for further support.

The board did not take a formal vote on the teen center proposal at the meeting; Destiny and staff will return with project bids and implementation details as they are developed.