HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-12-15-HSC-min.pdf Human Services Committee
Minutes of the meeting December 15, 1980
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Present Steve Baran Ruth Nablo, Ruth Butler, Howard Levingston, Carol Perez,
Also Nancy Banks and Bea Phear
Guests Jack Monderer (Director of Pupil Services)
Paul Lombard (Administrator of Special Education) A
The meeting was called to order at 7 45 p.m.
Mystic Valley
Nancy reported that Bob Hutchinson had recommended, and the Selectmen had voted, to
cut fiscal 1981. funding for Mystic Valley as of December 8, 1980 This is an interim
measure due to the immediate shortfall of excise tax revenues He will be requesting
comments from the H S Committee before authorizing payments for the second quarter
bill (Oct-Dec) He will also ask the committees views on next year's budget A
letter was sent to M.V with the criteria and supplementary questions Looking at the
M V bill, Howard questioned the large number of consulting hours to the schools
Nancy said that these are additional hours and that M.V charges the schools only for
direct services Consultation is seen as outreach, and also goes to other groups
Ruth Butler suggested that maybe Replace could do this better
Committee Role
Ruth Butler expressed that the committee's usefulness could focus most around programming,
as budget decisions are already being made without committee input, for example RePlace
thinks they are funded for next year Nancy pointed out that this only referred to
the current fiscal year that ends in June 1981; RePlace understands that they have to
go to Town Meeting for fiscal 1982 Committee input is valued
School Guidance Programs
Jack Mondere and Paul Lombard distributed material on the guidance program and answered
questions The goals have to do with helping students understand themselves in order to
facilitate the process of career development, and with helping students with social and
emotional development. This year the program has been more structured to promote a
more organized program of contacts with students, both in groups and individually In
addition, the school offers a "Health Education curriculum with units at each grade
level
Ruth Nablo questioned the time available to troubled students, if the counselors were
spending more time with non-problem kids Jack explained that the registrars office
and the new cluster counseling system with more secretaries both free up time, as well
as offering more programs with groups The larger number of contacts allows students
to develop more rapport with their counselor
Steve asked about referrals out, and how that selection is made Jack said that the
counselors mostly do short term or episodic therapy, and referral is for more severe
problems - suicide, medical needs, chance of psychotic episode They get some
consultation on these decisions from Mystic Valley, and refer to a variety of agencies
and private therapists They have contracts with Mystic Valley and with Lexington
Counseling Services
Ruth Butler asked about pressure and grade anxiety The committee is concerned that
community and parental pressure leads to dysfunctioning, and maybe we need to address
parenting issues Jack said the school uses all kinds of tests, not just short answer
Carol asked about caseload and burnout, suggesting that a favorite counselor might be
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overloaded Jack said that attempts were made to balance load through the clusters
While there are no differential job descriptions, one person may emphasize college
counseling while another emphasizes pezrorwlvonuoeliog Also, each student is assigned
"his" counselor throughout high school, with many automatic contacts six in the
sophomore year through the career development program, two in Junior year, and many in
Senior year
Ruth Butler asked ahout the nature of problems Depression is a major problem, with
family conflicts next. There are some abortion and teen pregnancy, and some drug, but
these are often related to family conflicts About 30% of the students are seen with
short term problems about 15 students are seen for year-long issues, and others are
referred out Counselors spend their time as follows 46% with students, 15% with
staff, 15w with parents, 5% on core evaluation, and 5% in kindergarten screening
Ruth Nablo asked about the frequency of testing and screening There is 100% screening
in kindergarten, and testing in 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th grades, plus the new state
mandated competency A local committee is developing the competency tests Also each
studnet is reviewed all year by his classroom teacher, who can call in a counselor for
consultation The counselor is not heavily involved in the testing program, but helps
interpret to students and parents
Paul explained the special needs relationship with CMARC The schools pay for transpor-
tation to CMARC for those over 18, but primarily special needs students are helped
in the school or through the LuBR collective (Lexington, Arlington, Bedford, and
Burlington) which is set up as a reciprocal arrangement, on a tuition paying basis,
to deal with the low incident popualtion About 50-60 students are sent out to
various programs, including LABB, with tuitions ranging from $1/ 500 to $35/000 There
is also a larger collaborative, Edco, that Lexington belongs to for $10/000 membership
fee About 11-12% of Lexington students are special needs (state range is 9`15t} A
core evaluation costs about $300, and then an education plan is created, with a liaison
appointed and the principal having ultimate authority
Ruth Nablo asked about program evaluation. Jack said that they know they comply with
the law, and they have done a survey of parents and are now asking for federal money
to do more evaluation The hypothesis is that the greater specification in the
education plan should effect the results
Ruth Butler asked about referrals to RePlace Jack said they refer formally through
the education plan (2 students this year) and informally as problems arise (about 30
students this year) RePlace is very helpful, e g in the Life Skills section of the
SPACE program. Both Jack and Paul felt that RePlace is a valuable resource; its
informality makes it easier for kids to seek help tbumuelveo/ rather than at & V , and
since it is free, they can continue even without parental involvement The schools do
not reimburse RePlace since it seemed incongruous for RePlace to ask for money there
and nowhere else Also Replace is funded by the Town already
Ruth Nablo asked about the divorce group and summer programs Jack said that the
divorce group is coordinated by a counselor and uses peer support and outreach It
operates only informally in the summer The nonaeliog staff is glad that there are
other agencies available in the summer
The meeting adjourned at 10 30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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