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County renews school-linked mental-health satellite in New Lebanon amid questions about district data
Summary
Columbia County renewed a school satellite contract with New Lebanon Central School District for school-based behavioral health services; committee members questioned a superintendent's claim the district has the highest percentage of children with mental-health issues and sought clarity on the 12% figure.
Columbia County Human Services asked the committee to renew a school-sited clinic that operates seven hours at New Lebanon Central School District; the committee voted to renew the satellite for the coming school year.
"We're serving appropriate amount of children for the 7 hours that were out there," Director Al Massey said, describing operations in both school buildings. A committee member relayed that the district superintendent said the district has the "highest percentage of children with mental health issues in the county" (cited at 12%). Massey and other members questioned the source and comparability of the 12% figure, noting that indicators such as education service plans do not necessarily equate to clinical diagnoses.
Committee members emphasized the district needs and the county's willingness to continue providing services while noting that more precise comparative data would be useful. The resolution to renew the satellite clinic passed by voice vote; no expansion of hours was proposed at this time.
