Columbia school board to receive update on mental health services for students
The Columbia Board of Education on Monday will hear information on the school district’s mental health initiatives for students.
The board will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Columbia Public Schools administration building, 1818 W. Worley St.
Lou Ann Tanner-Jones, CPS special services director, is scheduled to update the board on student mental health within the district. Literature released in advance of the meeting says between 12 percent and 20 percent of American students have a mental disorder that can be diagnosed. If the percentage is applied to Columbia Public Schools, mental health disorders affect 2,160 to 3,600 students.
Among the new initiatives being discussed is the Boone County Schools Mental Health Coalition, which involves Columbia, Southern Boone, Centralia, Sturgeon, Hallsville and Harrisburg school districts and the University of Missouri. The board’s consent agenda includes an agreement formalizing the coalition.
Kelly Wallis, director of Boone County Community Services, said the coalition was approved for funding of $1,190,865 through June 2016 via a quarter-cent sales tax approved by Boone County voters in 2012 for mental health services for children.
“This is just the beginning,” said CPS Superintendent Peter Stiepleman. “It’s really exciting.”
Stiepleman said it will include the availability of social workers and psychiatrists for support in any of the school districts.
“There is great promise in establishing a family access center — a brick-and-mortar building where schools could recommend a child to go where a screening is done,” Stiepleman said. “There would be follow-up case management.”
He said when a child is referred to the center, the student would not be involved in the juvenile justice system.
Expanding restorative practices in Columbia schools and among the other school districts is another goal of the coalition, Stiepleman said. Restorative practices is a procedure to address school conflicts that involves bringing offenders and victims together in a restorative conference. The conference gives students a chance to share their feelings and discuss any wrongdoing, playing an active role in resolving any conflicts.
Stiepleman said he believes officials with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will be interested in the coalition.
Chris Felmlee, superintendent in the Southern Boone School District in Ashland, said the coalition will allow the district to offer more comprehensive services to its students and families.
“It will provide mental health first-aid training for teachers to recognize and address the needs of students,” Felmlee said.
Aaron Thompson, assistant professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Missouri, said he and Wendy Reinke, associate professor in the Department of Educational, School and Counseling Psychology at MU, are working with the coalition as research consultants. Thompson said they are focused on ensuring what the coalition recommends is research-based and will help evaluate the results of the programs.
Specialized Educational Services Inc. is another initiative the district is considering, which Stiepleman said will conduct an assessment of classrooms with aggressive students.
He said there is no cost to the school district for the initial assessment. That agreement also is in the consent agenda.
Monday’s meeting also will include a financial update by CPS Chief Financial Officer Linda Quinley. Revisions to a student discipline policy also are expected to receive final consideration.
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