Counseling and Student Support Services Task Force
Background
During the school board’s August 2004 planning workshop, the board members received a report from Kitsap and Clallam County public health professionals detailing the changing demographics in Clallam County. The board discussed at length the impact on Port Angeles School District students, and discussed further the need to identify and determine approaches to removing barriers to student success. The board members’ asked the superintendent to schedule a study session to review the existing array of counseling and student support services provided by the district.
During the special meeting on January 18, 2005, board members received reports on the history and status of a variety of student services. The study session included participation by counselors, support teachers, Native American intervention specialists, drug and alcohol intervention specialists, school nurses, principals, and community mental health and family services providers. Following these comments, board members directed the superintendent to generate a recommendation for establishment of a task force to examine these services and options for improving them.
Task Force Charge
Based on the discussion during the board’s study session, and subsequent action by the board, the purposes of a Counseling and Student Support Services Task Force are as follows:
a) to study relevant literature and model programs;
b) to research program operations and comparable student-to-staff ratios in districts of similar size and configuration;
c) to examine existing staff certification patterns and job descriptions;
d)
to research program needs of students and staff;
e) to develop accurate cost data for alternative service structures;
f)
examine successful accountability models for counseling and student support programs; and
g)
to report on the results of the research, study, and formulations of alternatives and propose to the board recommended policy revisions and program changes, including staffing structure revisions, aimed at improving student achievement.
The task force is expected to deliver its recommendations to the board by the first meeting in June 2006. The district’s assistant superintendent for human resources and elementary programs will chair the task force. An initial task for the group is creating a timeline for meetings this fall and winter to facilitate the development of a final set of recommendations for the school board.
October 18, 2005
COUNSELING & STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES TASK FORCE MEMBERSHIP
|
Task Force Composition |
Proposed Volunteers |
1 |
Board Member |
Lynn Geren |
2 |
Board Member |
Cindy Kelly |
3 |
Secondary Students (2) |
Amanda Armstrong |
5 |
Teachers’ Association Representative |
Vicky Rockholt |
6 |
Classified Association Representative or Staff |
Wendy Brown |
7 |
Elementary School Certificated Instructional Staff |
|
8 |
Middle School Certificated Instructional Staff |
|
9 |
High School-Level Certificated Instructional Staff |
|
10 |
Elementary School Counselor |
Jackie Treadwell |
11 |
Middle School Support Teacher |
John Wagner |
12 |
High School Counselor |
Mike Nolan |
13 |
Drug and Alcohol Abuse Interventionist |
Sue Renes |
14 |
Native American Interventionist |
Jamie Valadez |
15 |
School Nurse |
Resa Yamamoto |
16 |
Elementary School Principal |
Nancy Pack |
17 |
Secondary School Administrator |
Brad Boudreau |
18 |
Parent |
|
19 |
Community Mental Health Representative |
Mark Gray (Mary Wegman) |
20 |
Chairperson – non-voting |
Ron Spanjer |
Board-approved October 10, 2005