NEW ULM — Providing counseling and mental health will remain a top priority of the District 88 School Board as an immediate and long-term goal.

Since the summer, the board and district principals worked with Longview Education to provide training in equitability.

A key goal for the district is to promise public education for every child to succeed in school and life. To realize this promise, every child must be given resources, support and interventions based on their needs.

The board wrapped up training with Longview last month by identifying projects that would have the greatest impact on the community. Counseling and mental health went to the top of the list.

The board and principals believed after two years of the COVID pandemic there was a great need for mental health awareness. Now, after reviewing the priority list of projects, the board agreed counseling and mental health were top priorities.

Initially, the board classified mental health as a quick project the school could implement, but the board felt this was more than a quick project.

Board member Jonathan Schiro said counseling and mental health was a quick win for the district in terms of setting up the program but said mental health was an ongoing concern.

Superintendent Jeff Bertrang said establishing a mental health program could be an immediate priority, but the actual program would be a major undertaking.

Bertrang went over a list of additional support staff needed as a result of COVID. The first addition was a dean of students. The dean’s responsibilities would be to work on behaviors, build coordination and support programs.

The middle school will add a student success soach. The position would be used to help with behavior and the academic slide caused by two years of distance learning.

Bertrang said at Jefferson Elementary and Washington Learning Center there is an increase in speech needs. Due to a lack of social interaction for two years, there are a greater number of younger students who need speech therapy. Bertrang said speech teachers could be a challenge, but they have posted for the position.

A community engagement director will work with families to help students re-engaged with academics.

Mental health providers are a top priority. Bertrang said the district has a contract with greater Minnesota to provide a therapist. Based on an overwhelming need, greater Minnesota will provide the district with an additional 20 hours of therapy evaluation.

The district has Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief funds available to cover the positions. Bertrang said the school had not touched any of its ESSER funding that it can use on these programs over the next two years.

—

The next school board meeting will be 6 p.m. Thursday, April 28, in the District Boardroom, 414 S. Payne St. The next study session is to be 5 p.m. Thursday, May 12, in the district conference rooms 228E and 228.