Owensboro Public Schools will be adding an additional Student Assistance Coordinator to assist with mental health services and creating a new position for a School Safety Associate as an additional measure to be proactive in safety.
The OPS Board of Education approved both positions during a Thursday work session. Both positions are able to be added due to federal ESSER funding.
Superintendent Matthew Constant said the Student Assistance Coordinator is an additional licensed mental health professional that “will be able to do more small group therapy and more wraparound aftercare services if students are away from the traditional learning environment at OHS for a while.”
Constant said the School Safety Associate will assist with supervision and school safety checks, and serve as a bridge to the community.
“We have a lot going on in our community with our kids,” Constant said. “This will be another set of eyes and ears to help the administration out.”
The board also approved an emergency certification for a teacher at Seven Hills Preschool.
In other business during their session, the board held a strategic planning work session as they work with a third party to build a plan for success in the district. Constant said there will be surveys and feedback sessions through January and February. The data and feedback will help the district know how to write a 3-5 year strategic plan.
