SAP Counseling May Be Brought In-House

Is it better for students struggling with school-related stress, drugs, alcohol and other issues to talk to a teacher, or someone "outside" of the school?

As officials consider trading contracted counselors for in-house staff as a cost-saving measure, that was the question several inquired about during Monday night's school board work session.

Hatboro-Horsham High School Principal Dennis Williams, in a brief presentation Monday night, suggested that the district save roughly $85,000 a year by replacing two contracted counselors with four or five district teachers who he said are trained and certified through the state's Student Assistance Program to guide students through what the state deems "barriers to learning."

"We can effectively and efficiently move some of the teaching staff ... into those positions," Williams said. 

Currently, Williams said the handful of district teachers certified in these roles teach "66 percent of the day" and have one period free to "handle those duties."

The goal, he said, would be to continue to have at least one counselor on hand every class period each day. Peer mentoring, peer mediation, as well as anger management, drug/alcohol counseling and stress relief programs would still be available, he said.

But, senior Sean Raymond, the high school's student council president, said the selling point now is that kids would not be confiding in a teacher or district employee, which he said "establishes more comfort."

School board member Kelley Winters asked if there's a "benefit" to having someone outside of school serve in these roles. 

"Yes and no," Williams said. "There's pros and cons."

As the district tries to rein in its 2013-2014 budget shortfall, Williams said, in light of "difficult financial times," that it's more important for Hatboro-Horsham to evaluate programs that have more impact on academics. On average, counselors see between 100 to 150 students per semester, he said. 

School Board President Russell Bleiler said that perhaps the district could survey students to see if they would prefer Student Assistance Program representatives from within or outside the district.

Throughout the rest of the district, Bob Reichert, director of business affairs, said he has been working with administrators to calculate per pupil allocations at each building. 

The objective is to "try to maintain a degree of equity," among schools, Reichert said.  

To that end, Reichert said reductions targeted at Simmons Elementary School and Hallowell Elementary School will put those schools "more in line with everybody across the board."

The board took no action on Monday. Reichert said officials would again discuss the counselor situation, as well as a proposal to reduce buses and routes; and the possibility of a student activity fee in April.