Mental health in the classroom
New Paltz school counselors were all set to roll out a mental-health curriculum when the pandemic changed education for the entire coronial generation. As a result of shutdowns and adapting to health directives that have changed frequently as more is understood about this virus, the focus on mental health was pulled back even as stressors increased significantly. At the October 6 School Board meeting, the topic was reintroduced, and staff members seem more prepared than ever to deliver this education. There are more social workers on staff, and administrators have been preparing for addressing the social and emotional needs of returning students for months now.
At all grade levels, students will have classroom lessons about topics such as empathy, compassion and forgiveness. This will be integrated with counseling plans that are intended to connect with students in groups and individually, leveraging the increased staff along with relationships with community organizations. Groups of students experiencing a similar struggle, such as divorce in the family, grief or anxiety are also part of this integrated approach. Older children will also be provided with guidance about wellness, healthy choices and planning for a career.
Ethics for elected officials
There are ethics rules that govern school district employees, but at their October 6 meeting, New Paltz School Board members discussed the fact that they are not covered by those rules. That’s because elected officials are beholden to voters, and anything approaching removal from office without an election is a dicey proposition. Trustee Diana Armstead raised the discussion in response to an online petition calling for Teresa Thompson to resign. Thompson came into conflict with Alex Wojcik after the latter proposed a Village law that would force landlords to offer lease renewals except under a narrow set of circumstances, or pay them to leave.
Board members agreed to discuss ethics at their upcoming retreat.
Concerns about Martucci plan
Members of the New Paltz School Board’s Legislative Action Committee are worried that Mike Martucci could put district finances in disarray. That’s because the state senator wants people over 60 to be exempt from property taxes. Kevin Cahill has been promoting the idea of funding schools through state income taxes for at least a decade in the Assembly, and the worry is that Martucci’s plan could make that idea even harder to achieve.
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