MONROE — A school-based mental health program implemented this year in the Monroe district has participation from 6% of the student population.
The district is half-way through the first year of the mental health program, which is a partnership between the district, SSM Health/Monroe Clinic, Orion Family Services and Avenues Counseling, LLC. A total of 141 students have received or are receiving ongoing mental health counseling services, according to a report by pupil services director Joe Monroe at a meeting of the school board Jan 27.
Aside from providing space and utilities for the program, the school has had no out-of-pocket costs for the program, school district administrator Rick Waski said. In 96% of cases, care is paid for by the student’s health insurance.
Monroe has a total student population of 2,350. At the district’s five schools, the number of students receiving services in the school-based mental health program include: Monroe High School 33, Monroe Middle School 43, Parkside Elementary 25, Northside Elementary 25 and Abe Lincoln Elementary 20.
Waski said watching the program develop has been “very exciting.”
“The bottom line is we have a lot of students receiving mental health services that previously weren’t,” Waski said.
About 60% of the students in the school-based mental health program are new to receiving those services.
Waski said there are other benefits, including that students who previously had to leave school to receive the services now miss less time in other classes. The program is confidential for students as appointments are set up just like the student is going to another class on their schedule.
Waski said the district “has seen some benefits known by staff” from the services.
“We hope having a student be in a better place mentally and emotionally leads to a better learning experience for them,” Waski said.
In other discussion at the school board meeting, the board received a study from the municipal advising firm of Ehlers that projected a slight decline in enrollment over the next several years.
Study data showed that through the 2026-27 school year there may be an overall decline of approximately 2.4%, or just over 50 students out of the entire student body. Elhers’ study was based on past enrollment trends, birth rates and county statistics.
“It’s a slight decline,” Waski said. “It’s less rapid than declines of the last five-to-six years.”
The study is important as the district moves toward a possible referendum in November that will ask voters to increase school taxes to make comprehensive improvements at district buildings. Recent discussions regarding two possible plans show overall costs ranging from $81.4 million to $85.9 million. The district has been involved in fact-finding for the school improvements for the last three years, including an 18-month effort by a community study group.
District residents were recently mailed a survey regarding preferences in education in the community. Waski said the initial response to the survey has been “very strong.” The deadline to return community feedback surveys is Feb. 17.
The district has an informational meeting regarding potential referendum plans scheduled at 7 p.m. Feb. 11 in the Monroe Public Library’s Community Room.
A previous similar meeting was held in early January.