Board reviews an agreement for school clinic

State law requires school corporations to partner with a mental health provider.

Jay School Board reviewed a proposed agreement to fulfill that requirement Monday.

Superintendent Jeremy Gulley presented the board with a memorandum of understanding with Meridian Health Services for providing on-site behavioral health services via a school-based behavioral health clinic.

The board also took the next step toward a building project that predominantly focuses on outdoor athletic facilities.

The memorandum with Meridian lays out the details of an agreement that would run through Dec. 31, 2025, and then be renewable annually. It calls for establishing a school-based behavioral health clinic to be staffed by three employees — one therapist and one “skill builder” to be based at Jay County Junior-Senior High School and a skill builder to be based at an elementary school.

Therapist duties would include providing therapy, identifying mental health and behavioral health needs and developing and implementing courses of treatment, among a variety of others. Gulley noted that any such services to be provided to students would require written parental consent. He added that Meridian is the only local provider that meets the requirements of the state statute.

He said there is no cost to Jay Schools, as the clinic would be funded predominantly through payments from Medicaid and private insurance. He added that the school corporation has a verbal commitment for a $200,000 donation from The Ray C. McKinley Family Foundation and The McKinley Educational Initiative to support such a clinic as well as other unrelated programs.

Gulley noted that through the school’s anonymous reporting system, there have been 25 reports of suicidal ideation, 30 of cutting or self-harm, and 18 of depression/anxiety since 2019.

“So when we have a family who says, ‘I don’t know how to help my kid,’ … having them in the school is a natural relationship between the school counselors and administrators,” said Gulley. “I think that will make a much more effective response for those families who want behavioral health and mental health (services) to help support kids …”

Board member Marcie Vormohr raised various concerns about the agreement, including about liability, malpractice, cost, access to birth control, adjustment of medications, communication with primary care physicians and reporting.

“It’s a very noble idea,” said Vormohr. “It sounds great. But … as a parent, I find it kind of iffy, or scary.”

In response, Gulley asked if she had read the memorandum — she said she had not read the whole thing — adding that he felt the document answered many of her questions. He asked that she provide her questions in writing so that he could pass them on directly to Meridian. He added that a Meridian representative could be brought in to meet with the board.

The 11-page memorandum addresses some of the issues Vormohr brought up, including that Meridian would be responsible for providing malpractice insurance and for oversight of licensing and credentialing, helping patients acquire the necessary Medicaid or health insurance coverage, following all federal health privacy guidelines, disclosing information to the school nurse for appropriate treatment and complying with school policies.

The board approved a resolution extending the lease agreement between Jay School Corporation and the Building Corporation of Jay Schools, which is part of the process toward a capital improvement project. Last month, it approved moving forward with a $6.1 million capital improvement project that would involved the construction of a 7,000-square-foot cleathouse at the northeast end of the football stadium, the installation of synthetic turf at the football field, replacement of wiring in the junior-senior high kitchen and a variety of other upgrades.

Bidding on some portions of the project could begin as early as March. The timelines for the work will vary, with kitchen electrical work expected this summer and installation of synthetic turf in spring/summer 2024.

In other business, the board:

•During the Patriot pride moment, honored the JCHS academic team heard a presentation from the school corporation’s literacy coaches, Christa Robinson and Jennifer Snow.

•Heard a presentation from school principals regarding IREAD testing and various educational attainment statistics that are available by clicking “Indiana GPS Data” at jayschoolcorp.org.

•Was introduced to the Patriot Service Award, a new honor to be given this year as a successor to the previous Star of Character Award. The award will honor those “who have significantly contributed to the mission of the Jay School Corporation over an extended period of time.” Nominations will be accepted through April 1, with a selection committee to choose the winners and presentation of the award at the May school board meeting.

•Heard Vormohr ask a question about what percentage of Jay Schools teachers are not certified. Assistant superintendent Trent Paxson explained that teachers who are not certified must get emergency permits or adjunct permits, as required by the state. Gulley added that exceptions in the corporation are in the areas of technology and elementary school physical education, where support staff has been utilized.

•Approved the following: a series of policy changes including regarding athletics, driver education, adjunct teachers and background checks; the hiring of East Jay Elementary School art teacher Liana McLaughlin; leaves of absence for three employees; field trips for the junior-senior high school’s Business Professionals of America, German and manufacturing students; the cancellation of checks that are more than two years old.

•Accepted the resignations of East Jay Elementary School art teacher Jacquelin Analco and elementary school physical education instructor Jared Weesner.

•Accepted donations of $500 from Ardagh Group to Jay County Baseball Club and the junior-senior high choral department.