Ark Valley News - Program supports mental health

Program supports mental health
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: January 16, 2020

More than a dozen Valley Center students who may not have had access to mental health services are now receiving care, thanks to a pilot program the school district embraced this year.

With funding through a state-issued grant, the program matches students with resources through COMCARE, a Sedgwick County-based organization that provides mental health and substance abuse services.

Since the program began, counselors at the middle school and high school and the district's social worker helped identify 28 students who could benefit from the service.

"We know students have increasing mental health needs," Adelyn Soellner, the district's executive director of academic affairs, told the school board Jan. 13. "Issues that come about go beyond the scope of what a school counselor does."

The district had previously hired a social worker, who helps families connect with community resources.

When the state legislature approved a pilot program to help pay for mental health services, the district jumped on board.

The program pays 75 percent of the cost of a liaison, who works for the district and facilitates COMCARE services. COMCARE counselors come to the schools to meet with students through individual or group therapy sessions or case management.

The district isn't sure whether funding from the state will continue next year. If it doesn't, the district would be faced with a decision on whether to continue the program while picking up the full cost.

The school board did not make any decisions on the program but most members appeared supportive of its work in the district.

In other business Jan. 13, the board:

•Welcomed new board members Sean Miller, Ben Wilson and Morgan Wiebe.

•Watched a demonstration by the intermediate school about technology used in the library.

•Heard a report on the district's Tableau reporting tool.

•Heard a report on an application to establish a licensure mentoring program for new teachers.

•Heard a mid-year financial report.

•Made board committee assignments.

•Approved an agreement (pending negotiation of a contract) with Konica Minolta to lease 22 copiers for five years at a cost of $279,591. Last school year, 4.4 million copies were made across the district.

•Approved additional staffing requests for the 2020-21 school year, totaling an estimated $390,000. The positions are a second-grade teacher at Wheatland, a director of special education, a counselor at the intermediate school, a part-time pre-kindergarten driver, a science teacher at the high school, more hours for an administrative assistant at Wheatland, a librarian at the middle school and a social studies teacher at the high school.

•Approved a minor update to a board policy on investment of funds.

•Approved the purchase of a bus to replace the one that was totaled in an accident in October. Cost of the bus from Kansas Truck is $64,251, which will be covered by insurance.

•Accepted a gift of $445.10 from Andrew Talbot for senior banners for the Valley Center High School bowling team; $350 from Credit Union of America for furniture and supplies to support group work in special education setting for the Valley Center Middle School FACS class; and $10 from an anonymous donor for meal accounts at the intermediate school.

•Approved the disposal of three vehicles.

•Approved job description updates for building principal and assistant principal.

•Approved a facility use agreement with the Kansas Collegiate League Baseball. The Mud Daubers baseball team will use the varsity baseball facility for up to 20 league baseball events at a cost of $1,780.

•Approved a mileage rate reimbursement of 57.5 cents per mile, which is a decrease of .5 cents.

•Met in executive session for 15 minutes to discuss an individual employee's performance. No formal action was taken.

•Approved one-year contract extensions for principals and assistant principals Mark Hoy, Rachel McClaran, Greg Lehr, Chad Cramer, Cody Lee, Jordan Funk, Jamie Lewis, Kent Hipp, Brianna Deas, Caleb Smith and Melissa Seacat.

•Accepted supplemental contract resignations from Bailey Chavez (boys and girls swimming assistant coach, Dec. 11), Renee Dir (middle school cheer assistant coach, May 21) and Lexi Clark (girls soccer assistant coach, Dec. 23).

•Approved supplemental contracts for Kendall Snyder (boys swimming assistant coach, $1,653.12, Jan. 6) and Tanner Giffin (baseball assistant coach, $3,464, Feb. 1).

•Approved the hiring of Amber Fortine (custodian at the District Office, $11.40 per hour, Jan. 2), James Bratt (bus driver, $13.65 per hour, Jan. 6) and Tabitha Miller (lunch aide at Abilene, $11 per hour, Jan. 14).

•Accepted resignations from Karen Rubenich (bus driver, Dec. 19), Katie Rice (lunch aide at Abilene, Jan. 13), Cynthia Melzer (bus driver, Jan. 31), Mandy Johnson, building aide at Abilene, Dec. 30), Agnes Timmons (food service administrative assistant, Jan. 22), Diana Bright (food service cook, Dec. 20), Randy Horn (counselor at Abilene, May 21), Carrie Busenitz (social studies teacher at the middle school, May 21), Sue Lincicome (vocal music teacher at West, May 21) and Linda Morrison (pre-kindergarten/ECD teacher at Abilene, May 21).