School Board Approves Crisis Intervention Plan

In response to Apr. 16, the Montgomery County School Board approved plans for a crisis intervention grant proposal at their meeting Tuesday.

The plan, called Project SERV, calls for $48,900 for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) to help students during an emotional crisis. The money would be donated by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools, Project School Emergency Response to Violence (SERV) Grants program.

Students who are believed to be suffering a crisis will be referred to the school’s guidance counseling staff. A clinician, paid with the plan's funding, will conduct a pre-screening evaluation if the school's guidance staff believes it necessary.

New River Valley Community Services (NRVCS) reported that as a result of April 16 and other subsequent tragedies, MCPS students needing crisis evaluation have almost tripled (66 from March-October 2006 to 189 from March-October 2007).

“We have seen an increase in referrals since Apr. 16, and we would like to be proactive in providing and coordinating with New River in providing additional services,” said Tiffany Anderson, superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools.

The proposal was submitted on Nov. 20. Although the Department of Education has not yet approved the plan, the board expects to receive the money on December 14.

An emergency services clinician will receive $31,500 for the six months. Wallet cards with contact information will cost $12,000 and will be distributed to all MCPS staff and students. The remaining money will go to travel, cell phone service and supervisor time.

The money would last until June.

“We will see how that goes, and then there’s the potential that we can apply for some additional funding if the need proves to still be there,” Anderson told the board.

The board also said goodbye to member Susan Morikawa, representative of District F. Morikawa, an accountant from Blacksburg, has served on the Board since July 2005.

Morikawa was presented with a plaque commemorating her service.

“This has been a very good learning experience for me,” Morikawa told the board. “So I’m really grateful to each of you for the things that you taught me individually in lots of different ways, and the way that you’ve helped me learn.”

Joe Ivers of Blacksburg will replace Morikawa on the board. Ivers won in the local and state elections as a write-in candidate Tuesday, Nov. 6.

Before moving to Blacksburg, Ivers gained much education experience in Fairfax County, Va. He worked as a teacher, in personnel and as an administrative assistant to the superintendent.

“What prompted me to do this was, it was the obvious next step,” Ivers said after the meeting. “I’ve done everything in education you can think of, and I figured now it’s payback time, and I can be on the board and do what I can do for other people, especially for kids.

“I’m excited about it. I’m really excited about it. It’s going to be fun.”