$10 million could go to mental health support

Two committees presented more than a dozen ideas Tuesday for $10 million to make Douglas County schools safer, but they largely boiled down to two major approaches: standardize schools’ plans and equipment, and better support for young people dealing with mental illnesses and trauma.

It isn’t clear how much of each approach the Douglas County commissioners will be able to fund. The presenters didn’t lay out price tags for their ideas at the Tuesday meeting, and commissioners held off on endorsing any plans.

The commissioners had voted in May to provide $13.3 million for school security. It includes $10 million in one-time money; $3 million in ongoing funds for police officers in schools, which schools must match; and $300,000 for a mental health response team to assist when students are in crisis.

Sarah Ericson, director of diversion in the 18th Judicial District, spoke on behalf of a committee that looked for mental health investments. She said the group recommends funding culture assessments at all schools willing to participate, and following that up with money for programs on social-emotional learning, suicide prevention and mental health support.

The county also could put money toward a new position to help young people navigate the mental health system and a public campaign to raise awareness of resources and to reduce the stigma of mental illness, Ericson said.

“We want our students to be equipped to talk positively about mental health,” she said.

Clinton Dorris, CEO of marketing company Lux Global, presented the physical safety committee’s findings. The most important thing is to standardize schools’ safety plans, equipment and training, and to make sure that law enforcement and parents are on the same page, he said.

“It doesn’t have to be the best” equipment or program, he said. “What wins the day is consistency.”

When the commissioners voted on the school resource officer money in May, Douglas County School District said it didn’t have matching money available to cover the rest of the cost, because it had already set its budget, but the district later came up with the matching funds.

Some Douglas County school board members initially objected to the commissioners forming the committees, and that they were assigned to provide recommendations by July. Board member Wendy Vogel told commissioners it would be irresponsible for the school board to “abdicate” its right to make decisions about the schools.

Nancy Ingalls, personalized learning officer at the district, spoke in praise of the mental health response team on Tuesday, however. She said the team will be particularly valuable when schools screen students for suicide risk and need to send them for further treatment.

John Castillo, father of Kendrick Castillo, who died rushing a shooter at STEM School Highlands Ranch, told commissioners at the start of the meeting that he’s pleased to see the investment in school resource officers. Kendrick felt safe when STEM had an officer, he said.

The school didn’t have an SRO in the most recent year.

“Kendrick made a connection with a good guy in his school,” he said.