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Mental health gets a boost School board adds help for students addressing trauma

Capital - 6/19/2020

A divided Anne Arundel school board added more mental health professionals Wednesday night in its final budget for the next fiscal year, shifting funds to help students dealing with trauma caused by the coronavirus pandemic and high profile incidents of police violence against black people.

The shift of $745,000 was a last-minute change as the school board approved the fiscal 2021 education budget adopted by County Council last week, an increase of $1.5 million over the $14.8 million proposed by County Executive Steaurt Pittman. The budget takes effect July 1.

The change, proposed by board member Julie Hummer, removed seven administrative positions from the transportation department to fund five school counselors, a school psychologist and a school climate teacher specialist.

"Our children will be coming back to us impacted by trauma in deep ways that will require us to be even more present, and available to them," Hummer said.

Students recently talked about pressures on their mental health. In a two-hour panel discussion live-streamed Tuesday night, students shared deeply personal experiences in the face of systemic racism, microaggressions and other issues as the country, and the county, reckon with the impact of such societal problems.

Support of her amendment mentioned students' deaths by suicide this school year. Board member Terry Gilleland talked about such tragedies and said "our students are still going to have some struggles.," when they return in the fall.

Other members pushed back, arguing that there are still safety and health concerns involving a more efficient transportation system.

"We've had parents in tears over issues with the transportation system, this absolutely is about a student's safety and well being," Vice President Melissa Ellis said.

Board member Dana Schallheim urged the board to reconsider the amendment and to find other ways to fund the mental health positions. Others cited a recent consultant's report that identified a need for more investment in transportation.

"I don't think we should let the impact of the pandemic derail the efforts we have been working on for years to operate our school transportation system. I think we should forge ahead with the budget we planned," board member Eric Grannon said.

Hummer's amendment to the budget passed 5-4. Schallheim introduced an amendment to restore the transportation positions by taking money from the instructional supplies, but it failed.

After the board voted to approve the operating budget, Ellis, Schallheim and board member Candace Antwine expressed concerns.

"I am extremely disappointed. I thought we were a team, I guess we are not - some clearly are seeking to divide instead of unify," Schallheim said.

The budget pays for staff at Crofton High School when it opens later this year, and 84 teacher positions were added to address enrollment growth. The budget also covers 12 behavioral health positions, 76 special education positions and 10 English language teachers.

The board approved the capital budget of $163.1 million adopted by the County Council. The council added $9.6 million to include additional relocatable classrooms and a West County Elementary School design.