Work sessions are designed to discuss subjects before the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board with no action on the agenda.  Tuesday morning featured such a board session, with substitute teachers and the mental health program up for discussion.

Central office administrator Ryan Taylor and Sub Coordinator Diane Howell reviewed the substitute teacher program.  Prior to the COVID pandemic, there were about 400 regular subs, now the number is 324.  There were 66 permanent substitute teachers in HSE Schools prior to the pandemic, there are now 46.

Those with a daily substitute teacher license are paid a $90 daily rate of pay.  Efforts are being made to retain and recruit more subs.  Taylor told the board HSE Schools is “always in a state of recruitment” for substitute teachers.

To qualify as a sub, one must have 30 hours of college credit and meet some other requirements.

For more details on all this, see the PowerPoint presentation at this link.

On the mental health front, Molly Kirwan, Mental Health and School Counseling Coordinator for HSE Schools, brought with her a counselor from Fishers High Schools to discuss the district’s mental health program and counseling.

Kirwan traced the mental health program as it grew with some funding from the 2016 referendum.  That provided staffing and a contract for services with Community Health Network.  Mental health services are provided in 3 tiers, with providers (depending on the tier) including schools counselors, social workers, psychologists & Community Health Network School-Based Therapists.

The hiring of 4 additional high school counselors has improved counselor ratio for 9th grade students from 425:1 down to 315:1. The recommended ratio is 250:1.

For the PowerPoint presentation on mental health, use this link.