Schuh to add staff to schools in budget; County executive wants to increase number of mental health, counselor positions
CapitalMay 20, 2018
County Executive
The supplemental budget would add
Schuh's announcement was on the same day as a deadly shooting at a
Advocates believe the staff would help students handle social and emotional issues and act as a preventative effort against school shootings and other incidents. Those advocates also have stressed that a person who has mental health issues does not mean they are more inclined to commit school shootings.
"This proposed increase in funding for school counselors and other mental health professionals will help provide the resources needed to ensure social and emotional support for our students," Schuh said in a statement.
Schuh's initial budget included two psychologists but no counselors or social workers.
The council has been considering adding teachers and more mental health staff to the budget, but first they had to find places to reduce funding. Schuh's supplemental budget will go before the council, which must pass a budget by mid-June.
Councilman
"This goes part way in addressing behavioral health," Trumbauer said. "The need for more classroom teachers to reduce class sizes, that is a priority for me, and I believe it is a priority for the majority of the council as well."
The money for Schuh's announcement was made possible by
The union's contract reduced how long it takes firefighters to reach maximum salary while also increasing the amount of money made at each step. The increases are expected to cost about
The deal also removed some yearly allowances for firefighters unless they reach maximum employment by
Councilman
"All in all we have a pretty good budget," Fink said. "What is the right number, I don't know. If we can add more, I would be supportive of that."
Councilman
"I'm glad to see he is listening, but we need to make more significant improvements," Walker said. "We also need teachers. Even with the teachers he has proposed at this point, class sizes will still grow."
Credit: By
Caption: Schuh