Lakeland ends counseling contract with Heritage Health
The Lakeland Joint School District board of trustees decided Monday not to renew a no-cost contract with Heritage Health that allows students to meet with counselors on Lakeland campuses.
The contract allows parents to set up counseling appointments on school campuses, reducing the burden of transportation, the amount of class time a student misses and the cost for parents to arrange for travel.
“There are some of our kids who definitely benefit from that time, who would not receive those services, because parents cannot get them to their appointments,” said District Superintendent Lisa Arnold. “Really this is about providing a helpful service to students to make it more easily accessible for some parents.”
The board decided 3-2 to discontinue the use of district facilities for parent-approved therapy. Trustees Randi Bain and Bob Jones voted against the decision.
“Our buildings are overcrowded, we’re overrun as it is,” said Board Chair Michelle Thompson. “And now we’re designating space for a service, that … I don’t know that it’s being used efficiently, but yet it’s taking up space in our district.”
During the meeting, there was no other rationale discussed for discontinuing the agreement with Heritage Health.
“Many of the programs implemented before the current administration were done so without board approval,” said Vice Chair Ramona Grissom in an email. “The board is assessing all programs, clubs and policies to make sure they align with current Idaho statutes, promote academics and protect parental rights.”
Craig Wirtz, parent of a student in the district, told The Press he is upset about the decision to not renew the contract.
It could mean for many parents that they will no longer be able to access counseling for their children.
“So now that gets put back on the teacher that has to deal with this," Wirtz said. "There are kids that need this. Are we putting the kids in jeopardy? Not only the kids themselves but the kids around them. I just think this is a horrible decision.”
Heritage Health was surprised by the board's decision.
“We’re deeply disappointed to learn that the school board voted to cancel the mental health contracts for the Lakeland School District,” said Mike Baker, CEO of Heritage Health. “We’re working on a positive solution for the community based on this news. We are highly aware of the intense mental health needs of young people in North Idaho, and this is not an issue that goes away when we don’t talk about it anymore.”
The counseling services are not affiliated with, paid for or coordinated by the district. The relationship is between counselors and parents.
The contract states that under no circumstances will the school district be responsible for compensating Heritage Health for the counseling services.
“It’s for kids who have ongoing counseling,” Arnold said. “We just offer the space but ultimately it’s the parents who are requesting the services. The only thing we do is provide the space.”
Heritage Health goes through a screening process to select at-risk students and schedules counselors based on assessments by a team of counselors, said Lynn Paslay, assistant superintendent. “Heritage Health decides where counselors go and how they’re staffing that resource.”
There’s a release of information form that parents can sign to inform the school district of the treatment plan, but parents aren’t necessarily required to disclose treatment.
Heritage Health counselors travel to schools as needed and students can walk to their appointments on campus and return to class.
There are four therapists that cover all the district’s buildings, with a long waiting list of students, Arnold said. Some buildings in the district aren’t being served because there aren’t enough counselors to meet the need.
“I want these kids that are considering suicide to get help,” Wirtz said. “I don’t understand why someone would deny that to these children.”
