Telegraph photo by ADAM URQUHART Nashua School District Superintendent Jahmal Mosley speaks during the Monday board of education meeting.

NASHUA – A grant approved by members of the Board of Education aims to provide support to improve the social and emotional health of children, while helping their families.

This $50,000 awarded by the New Hampshire Department of Education supports school and community-based behavioral health practices. Funds will be used to develop and support a district-wide Multi-Tiered System of Support for Behavioral Health and Wellness (MTSS-B). This system employs a systematic and continuous improvement framework integrating school behavioral health practices across all levels of the educational system for supporting every student.

In a letter Assistant Superintendent Garth McKinney sent to board members, he states, “This grant will allow us to engage with district personnel, our district-wide SEL (Social Emotional Learning) and Student Behavior Taskforces, as well as community stakeholders to review and improve our behavioral health interventions for al students.”

During Monday’s meeting, McKinney said a large majority of students respond well to traditional practices in school, but this gives them some training and support for kids who do not respond to those initial pieces, and gives them more variety in terms of supporting the social-emotional wellness of students. McKinney also said this is kind of a starter grant to do some initial work for the district. After that, officials will evaluate the work and see where to go from there in terms of applying for additional funding or looking for other grants. The lifespan of this grant runs until the end of September.

With this grant expiring by the end of the year, board member Paula Johnson raised questions and said she needs answers before she could support approving these funds. Johnson raised the question of what officials will do when this grant money is used, whether that be going to get more grant money or having to put this money into their budget to continue funding it. Johnson also wants to make sure that this $50,000 is going to every place it has to go appropriately.

With future finances in mind, Johnson did not support this item when it came time to vote. Board members voted in favor of accepting the grant, 7-1.

Board member Ray Guarino said a discussion was had at last year’s budget meeting regarding psychologists. Guarino cited a need for more social workers and psychologists. Guarino said he has been hearing from students and parents in the school district that there is a need for more behavioral health support.

“I think the more support we can get for families, as far as behavioral health and wellness, I think the better,” Guarino said.

McKinney said unless the district has access to work like this, he believes officials will be reporting back on the same disciplinary challenges and behavioral concerns. His intent is to use all of these funds in the best way possible.

“You talk to teachers in Nashua, and they will tell you that the last four or five years, they are seeing children with problems that they haven’t seen before. Whether it’s the opioid crisis, or whatever it is, they are seeing problems they haven’t had before,” board member Dotty Oden said.

Adam Urquhart may be contacted at 594-1206, or at aurquhart@nashuatelegraph.com.

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