MONROE — Mental health services in the School District of Monroe may see a change after the April 26 Board of Education meeting when board members will be asked to vote on the reduction of a school psychologist position from 4.8 full time employees to 4.0.

District Administrator Rick Waski brought an informational item to the board at the April 12 meeting recommending the reduction coincide with the departure of Parkside psychologist Carol Ninmer, who announced her retirement in March.

“After a critical look at our numbers and state averages, I feel it is fiscally responsible to reduce from 4.8 FTEs of school psychs in our district to 4.0 FTEs,” Waski said in the recommendation. 

The reduction would save the district approximately $84,000 per year.

When the district first changed from four to five school psychologists, it had approximately 2,800 students.

Now, it has only 2,200.

“Our enrollment has decreased significantly and I think we have to look at the needs of the district and make a decision that we feel is in the best interest of all our kids,” Director of Pupil Services Joe Monroe said.

Even with the reduction of a position, Monroe schools are among the top in the state in terms of the pupil to school psychologist ratio.

“Making that move, we’ll still be in the upper quartile in staffing and cost per student statewide,” Waski said.

At 4.8 FTEs, Monroe is 30th out of Wisconsin’s 425 school districts for psychologist cost per pupil, putting the district in the top 10% in the state. The district also has the 18th lowest pupil to school psychologist ratio in the state. 

“As the Director of Pupil Services, I appreciate the support that the board has given to the school psychs and the school counselors,” Monroe said. “Clearly, this board has prioritized and emphasized the importance of mental health support for our kids and our schools.”

The board will be asked to vote on the reduction at the April 26 board meeting.