Question 4: This November’s election will include two questions that seek funding for initiatives that cannot be funded through the existing Board of Education budget. According to the Full Day K parents group, you will be voting in favor of Full Day K. What is your position on the Mental Health ballot question, and why?
John Quattrocchi: The two questions in the ballot each deserve the support of our community. I support both Full Day K and the Mental Health Program and that’s why I voted as a board member to put them on the ballot.
The Mental Health Initiative will allow the district to substantially increase the services we provide to help protect the well-being of our students.
It is important to know that this program is the result of the work of a community-wide committee we convened over the past year. Staff, Administrators, students, parents and others worked together to review our current programs, meet with outside experts, and agreed on the recommendation to develop this program.
The program will allow us to expand services in our elementary schools, hire licensed clinical social workers (LCSW) for the middle school and high school and expand our Child Study Team capabilities at HBW and VHS. We would do this with the assistance of Effective School Solutions (ESS). They are engaged in over 40 school districts, in over 80 school buildings. They will provide the Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs). The program will cover the entire student population.
ESS brings psychiatric expertise, proven treatment protocols, multiple levels of experienced leaders to engage, and a comprehensive delivery system that is proven effective through the experiences where they operate across New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. The ultimate responsibility of our students well-being, however, will always reside with the Verona School District. ESS will assist us in that responsibility.
The program targets students at risk for mental health issues such as depression, substance abuse, severe anxiety, high-risk behavior, suicidal risks, and other symptoms. As a result, schools that have this program see positive results including improved academic results, school attendance, less disciplinary issues, and less out-of-district placements for the students targeted for assistance.
I am a strong believer that our schools are the center of our community. In today’s society, it is important that we provide our children with the opportunities – and support – to achieve their potential, their goals, and to develop into successful members of our future society.
Finally, remember that ballot questions such as this would ring-fence funding for the program in our budget so that future Administrators and Board must provide the program in the future. This gives certainty to our community that the program will persevere in the future.
