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Politics & Government

School Committee Approves Therapeutic Support Program

The program was originally slated to be included in next year's budget, but school officials feel the need is too pressing to wait.

Reading Memorial High School Principal Elinor Freedman and Director of Student Services Alison Elmer requested emergency hiring and budget approval to create a therapeutic support program at the Reading School Committee meeting on Dec. 19.

After hearing testimony from Freedman and Elmer, the committee voted, 5-0, to approve funding.

Superintendent of Schools John Doherty said the program was originally going to be included in the budget for FY13, but the need is there now.

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“We have an immediate need right now at the high school, he said. “We were planning on getting it in next year’s budget, but we feel the need is there now.”

According to Elmer, there are a number of students at RMHS who are “in crisis” and the school doesn’t have much to offer them.

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The therapeutic support program, as outlined by Elmer, will provide a Licensed Social Worker, on a permanent or contract basis, a full-time licensed teacher, virtual high school courses and consultation to program from contracted provider for program development.

The program will be geared towards at-risk students, including, but not limited to, the following diagnoses: Mood Disorder-NOS, PTSD, Anxiety Disorder, ADHD, Bi-polar Disorder, OCD, Tourette’s Syndrome, separation anxiety, Agoraphobia, Depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Dysthymic Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder.

As Elmer noted, at RMHS, she sees students who are chronically absent due to one or more of the above maladies. 

“One student has made it to eight of 71 school days this year,” she said. “And one has been late 31 times.”

Freedman also spoke about the need for the program.

“In recent years, we have seen an increasing number of students who have been unable to participate in our school’s programs,” she said. “But they still have a strong desire to be educated.”

Committee member Karen Janowski asked what services were currently in place to aid the students in question. Elmer responded by listing the following: a maximum of two periods a day in the Student Support System (SSP), counseling with the school psychologist, referrals to outpatient therapy, dropping academic levels to attend smaller classes, one-on-one paraeducator support, in-home tutoring, CHINS for truancy and a modified schedule or early release.

Committee member David Michaud wondered if the effort was being rushed, and asked if a less than completely planned program this spring would be good for the kids.

Freedman indicated that she felt the school was capable of making this work now.

“I don’t want to wait until we lose more students,” she said. “I think we have the expertise.”

Before the committee put the matter up for a vote, several more members commented on the proposal.

Lisa Gibbs said she was horrified to see all the things the district isn’t doing for kids.

“Finances aside, we can do a better job in Reading at the high school,” she said. “So many other districts have programs like this.”

Doherty estimated the cost of hiring the requisite professionals to staff the program at $60,000 to $70,000 for the remainder of the school year.

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