Robbinsville – The Graham County Board of Education approved adding new procedures for student mental health support, discussed funds for school meals and other items.
The supervisor of counseling and student/staff support, Latesha Wiggins and mental health liaison Sunny Jenkins proposed expanding Policy 6120, “Student Health Services.”
The policy is a federal document that applies to all schools. Wiggins and Jenkins presented a protocol to implement into the policy to help Graham County School students more efficiently.
The board approved, 4-1. Board member Debra “Hank” Dinschel did not vote in favor of the measure, stating she had not had time to read over the policy.
The original document had some interpretations on it, including how to give a mental health evaluation. Language changes are also in the new procedure.
Wiggins said that in the past, there have been some barriers when sending students to a provider for those in danger of harming others, self-harm or suicide.
“What we’re hoping to do as staff members is to triage and have a better interpretation of a student who may be self-harming, to determine the severity of those things,” said Wiggins.
Wiggins proposed that staff be trained in giving evaluations for students to fill out to determine the level of risk with the student. The evaluation is based on the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale.
The evaluation has questions for the student to answer. The scale has a formula for when the student answers certain questions with yes or no, to refer the student to behavioral health care support.
The evaluation does not have to be administered by a licensed clinician. Trainees only need about 30-40 minutes of training to administer the evaluation.
Jenkins added that the crisis staff would be trained first on how to implement the evaluation.
Eventually, teachers could also be trained.
Mental health, suicide, self-harm and other significant impacts are big concerns for Graham County School students, according to Wiggins and Jenkins.
“I’m not going to try to paint a pretty picture. We have staff members who are very well-trained, but they are exhausted,” said Wiggins.
“It was about three weeks ago when an athletic trainer in Swain County (Carrie Powell) passed. That following Monday, we had seven students who needed responding to for some kind of crisis,” said Jenkins.
COVID funds
The federal funds received for COVID to support guidance counselors, nurses and various programs will end in the next 6-18 months. These funds were certain allotments given during the pandemic to last about three years.
Adam Scepurek of West End-based firm Anderson, Smith & Wike presented the audit and said Graham County Schools has $290,000 in local available funds.
“That fund source, is going to be your go to for adding funds, adding other programs or covering the costs of some of those federal funds about to expire like those COVID-19 grants,” said Scepurek.
The board also had to consider the Child Nutrition Fund, with $1,970 available for school meals.
The board already borrowed $80,000 from the general fund.
If the fund runs out, money will need to be borrowed from the local available funds.
In July, Graham County Schools received the Community Eligiblity Program, for free school meals during the 2023-24 school year. Scepurek hopes that if the program makes a good profit, the board will be able to pay back the $80,000 and have funds after the COVID funds run out.
Sceprurek suggested that the board needs to see what inflation does, to determine whether the board needs to transfer funds or take out a loan in the future to provide for school meals.