“Discipline is about changing behavior,” McFee said. “Suspensions could be cut in half if kids go into the program.”
McFee said that there had already been discussions with parents who are looking for this type of assistance. He said Community Behavioral Health came to the district to offer the service.
“This is a good opportunity for our schools,” McFee said.
Jason Groves, a Community Behavioral Health counselor, said the program is designed to teach teens to resist substance abuse as well as addressing social and family factors that contribute to their substance use. The program is currently used in the Middletown, Hamilton, Carlise, Edgewood and the probation departments in Butler and Warren counties.
The 60-day program is in lieu of probation and/or suspension or expulsion from school and enables the students to remain in the classroom. Students would also attend two-hour sessions twice a week and a one hour session once a month. In addition, parents would have sign a release to share information with the school and probation departments as well as a session with the student’s family and main support system. Students would have to have a 90 percent attendance rate and also be subject to three random urine drug screens while in the program.
“Suspensions can be shelved to allow a kid to get assessed and receive treatment,” he said.
Groves said the current program has one meeting which made it hard to track progress and follow-ups.
He said counseling organization would work with the family’s insurance for payment. If a family could not use their insurance plan, Groves said the company would absorb the costs.
Franklin Superintendent Michael Sander expects less than a dozen students, if any, to be referred to the intervention program.”I hope there is none,” he said. “If there is a problem, we can provide assistance to help change that lifestyle and not be punitive.”
While the program is focused on the junior high and high school level, he said it could be for any student as well as helping concerned parents looking for assistance.
The board will consider approving the program at its Sept. 22 meeting.
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