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Board approves mental health intern job description, will temporarily fund positions from General Fund pending SBHIP billing guidance
Summary
The board approved a Mental Health Specialist Intern job description and agreed to fund the intern(s) from the General Fund until billing guidance for the $2.7 million Student Behavioral Health Incentive Program (SBHIP) grant is clear.
The Santee School District Board approved a job description for Mental Health Specialist Interns to support the district’s SBHIP initiative and agreed to temporarily fund the intern(s) from the General Fund while clarifying grant reimbursement rules.
Superintendent Dr. Kristin Baranski said the district received $2.7 million in Student Behavioral Health Incentive Program (SBHIP) grant funding to support staffing and builds a sustainable mental‑health program. She explained Mental Health Specialists would be hired as interns after coursework completion so they could complete Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) clinical hours within the district.
During discussion, Member Barbara Ryan “reiterated the Board’s priority of having a counselor at each site but expressed concerns with utilizing the SBHIP funds without knowing the reimbursable expenses and suggested the use of General Fund resources for the intern until more billing guidance is received.” The board voted 4–0 to approve the job description and the funding approach (Member Levens‑Craig not present).
The motion clarifies the district’s intent to expand clinical training opportunities for prospective Mental Health Specialists while maintaining fiscal caution until SBHIP billing procedures are confirmed.
