BY CHLOE YOUNG
The cost
The bottom line
Mental health support satisfies a basic need, Clark said. While the district can offer great academic programs, students may be unable to access them if they experience a mental health disorder, Clark said. Some lawmakers have disagreed over whether schools should provide behavioral health services, which has delayed additional funding, Winick said. Brighton said she is grateful LISD has the resources to meet student’s needs but feels the response should go beyond the district. Education officials, mental health authorities and advocacy groups spoke with Community Impact about the need for a collaborative response between schools, cities, counties, care providers and law enforcement. LISD denied Community Impact’s request for interviews for this story.
In recent years, LISD has increased fund- ing for counseling services amid a projected $29.5 million budget shortfall in the 2024-25 fiscal year. Texas school districts do not receive funding specifically allocated for mental health services, LISD Chief Financial Officer Pete Pape said. LISD covers costs associated with mental health services using the basic allotment of funding per student, which has remained at $6,160 since 2019. “We haven’t had a funding increase since 2019, and a lot of things changed,” Pape said. “Costs have gone up. Needs have gone up. One of those needs is more mental health services.” An increase in state funding could allow LISD to support more staff to provide mental health services, Pape said. Texas Coalition for Healthy Minds, an association of around 43 organi- zations, advocated for the state to create an
allotment for student mental health services in the 2023 legislative session. Districts may use funds from the school safety allotment to cover behavioral health-related expenses, but this funding is often used for statewide safety mandates, said Seth Winick, director of TCHM. LISD is currently creating a multimillion-dollar police department to meet the requirements of House Bill 3, which requires districts to have an armed security guard at every campus. Since 2020, LISD has used grant funding from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief fund to cover some counselor positions. With funding expiring last school year, LISD has relied on LEEF to fill in funding gaps. Upon receiving a $129,000 grant from the Moody Foundation, LEEF raised another $51,000 to cover two therapists this school year, LEEF Executive Director Coleen Brighton said.
District per-student spending on guidance counseling Leander ISD has increased spending per student on guidance counseling services.
• Travis County • 512-472-4357 (24/7 helpline) Integral Care If your student is experiencing di culty with mental health, the following local organizations are available to help:
$600
$405
$500
$547
$400
Bluebonnet Trails Community Services
$300
$200
• Williamson County • 800-841-1255 (crisis hotline)
$0
2017-18
2018-19
2019-20 2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
25
CEDAR PARK - FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION
Powered by FlippingBook