MONROE — Members of the Monroe school board showed support for a proposed agreement between Monroe Clinic and the School District of Monroe to provide better mental health services to students.

The agreement still requires finalization. Director of Pupil Services Joe Monroe said behavior screening recently identified 19% of the district population was at an elevated risk for behavioral issues and 6%, or 143 students, were “extremely elevated.” He said the community has a mental health crisis.

“Quite frankly, as a community, I don’t know if we’ve been able to meet that need,” Monroe said. 

But through an agreement with Monroe Clinic, the district could place a professional in a permanent space within the district that would allow students direct access to counselor services. 

Monroe said it would be at no cost to the district because of direct billing. He also noted that in working with Monroe Clinic staff and those with Avenues Counseling in Monroe, services would be covered under insurance plans from both Dean and Quartz. 

For those without insurance coverage or the means to pay for services, Monroe said he spoke to Monroe Clinic CEO Mike Sanders, who expressed dedication to helping the roughly 5 percent of students likely not to have coverage.

School board member Jim Plourde said that was reassuring.

“I know there’s a need,” Plourde said.

Northside Elementary Principal Amy Timmerman agreed, noting that counseling for behavioral and mental health can be needed at the youngest grade levels.

“It’s stretched our resources so thin that it’s affected what we can do,” she said. 

Board member Les Bieneman questioned what the professional with an office in one of the district buildings would be doing. 

Monroe said the scope of services could include treatment for anxiety, depression and other factors which influence mental health, like home life. 

Monroe added that he plans to apply for a grant through the state Department of Public Instruction, which is due in May. The $75,000 in funding could help with the costs of providing mental health services to students whose families may not be able to afford care.

The work for this agreement stemmed from a coalition of 30 community representatives, formed under the CheesemakerSTRONG Task Force. Partners in the task force include Avenues Counseling, Green County Human Services, Jacob’s SWAG, Monroe Clinic and Orion Family Services, as well as others. Monroe said the agreement would be brought to the school board for final approval during its May meeting.

“I’ve been here 21 years, and I have to say, this could be the most significant thing we’ve done in the community,” Monroe said. “It’s something that the kids, and the families, need.”