Considering clinic

Jay School Board is continuing to discuss the possibility of establishing on-site behavioral health services via a school-based behavioral health clinic.

Lisa Suttle of Meridian Health Services visited Monday’s school board meeting to present information and answer questions regarding the proposed clinic.

Jay Schools superintendent Jeremy Gulley explained that after the clinic was discussed at the board’s February meeting he forwarded questions from board members to Meridian officials. He also reached out to local physicians regarding the agreement and received responses from two individuals. In response to their ideas/concerns, additional language was added to the agreement including details regarding communication between Meridian and students’ healthcare providers.

The memorandum with Meridian 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. Suttle explained that Meridian’s first such clinic was in Muncie Community Schools three years ago and that it has since opened several others.

Board members Vickie Reitz and Marcie Vormohr both sought clarification regarding parental consent. Suttle responded that consent from parents is required each time a student receives services from Meridian.

Donna Geesaman asked how services will be provided when needed in the corporation’s elementary schools. Suttle noted that Meridian has equipment in place to allow staff to hold virtual sessions from their base at the junior-senior high school but staff can also visit the schools, if necessary based on the situation.

Additional questions were raised regarding procedures if a student is suicidal, confidentiality and the cost of services. Suttle explained that a procedure is in place that involves supervision and working with school officials, parents and other authorities in a situation when a student is suicidal, that Meridian must follow the same confidentiality rules as any other health care provider and that cost for services is income-based.

Gulley asked the board to send him any additional questions regarding the clinic. He said he expects to recommend approval of an agreement with Meridian at the board’s April 17 meeting. (State law requires school corporations “enter into a memorandum of understanding with a community mental health center … or a provider certified or licensed by the state.”)

He noted that three Jay Schools students have taken their own lives since 2020 and that since January 2019 there have been 28 reports of suicidal ideation in the schools and 38 reports of cutting or self harm.

Junior-senior high school associate principal Alex Griffin and East Jay Elementary School principal Erica Tomano gave the board a presentation regarding bullying, reiterating information that has been discussed several times at meetings already this school year. They again laid out the various ways that are available to report bullying, including the anonymous Say Something app and online forms that are sent directly to principals.

They also explained the school corporation’s process for informal and formal investigations and what steps are taken in terms of both prevention and conflict resolution.

Earlier in the meeting the board heard from Brenda Rowles, who has grandchildren in Jay Schools, regarding bullying. She expressed concern about the issue, saying students are being threatened. She pushed for legal action to be taken. “Enough’s enough,” she said.

In other business, the board:

•During the Patriot Pride moment, heard a presentation from principal Julie Gregg about East Elementary’s school garden. Students take care of the garden, which is funded by a grant from Jay County Solid Waste Management District.

•Approved the following: contract extensions for JCHS football coach Grant Zgunda, girls basketball coach Kirk Comer and boys basketball coach Jerry Bomholt through the 2024-25 school year; leaves of absence for junior/senior high radio/tv media teacher Lori Reece and East Jay special education teacher Jessica Kimmel; extracurricular assignments including Dave Cramer as girls tennis coach, Josh Gibson and Ashlee Champ as junior high track coaches and Marie Bruggeman as junior high yearbook sponsor; course guides for the junior-senior high school; field trips for the JROTC program, Lifeskills students and robotics students; a bus request from Zion Early Learning Center.

•Set preschool fees for the 2023-24 school year at $340 for two days per week, $465 for three days and $615 for five days. Those are up $15 each from the current year.

•Accepted the retirements of Redkey second grade teacher Shelly Miskinis and Jay Schools facility and maintenance director Mark Myers, and the resignations of Latchkey instructional assistant Emma Swingley and Lifeskills instructional assistant Cheyenne Caldwell.