Wahluke School District to get local behavioral health services

MATTAWA — The Wahluke School District approved a memorandum of understanding with the Mattawa Community Medical Clinic for behavioral health services during a regular meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 10.

“We have been interested in helping with mental health issues,” said Dana Fox, chief executive officer for the Mattawa Community Medical Clinic. “Grant Mental Health is trying, but struggling.”

Mattawa Community Medical Clinic will be providing a mental health professional two mornings a week to Wahluke Schools. They will pay for all the expenses, except the office, which the school district will provide. The clinic will bill the medical coupons of children who have them. Parents will also need to sign consent forms.

“We believe there are children that are missing appointments and falling through the holes,” Fox said. “The goal is to prevent suicide.”

They will be working with Grant Mental Health to provide the services.

“They don’t have the staff or ability to keep up,” Fox said. “We have been called in several times when Grant Mental Health couldn’t meet your need. We work hand in hand with them.”

The memorandum of understanding was passed unanimously with one abstention from Mabeline Pantaleon, who is also on the board of the clinic.

In other business, four board members were sworn in during Tuesday’s meeting. Pantaleon, Craig Sabin, Seth Weeks and Jesse Chiprez were all up for election in November. The board also had their annual organizational meeting. Board chair Lorraine Jenne was reelected as president. Pantaleon was voted in a vice president.

The board approved the school improvement plans for all schools in the Wahluke School District.

“We’re trying to be cohesive and work together, said Karl Edie, principal of Morris Schott STEAM Elementary School, of the three Wahluke elementary schools.

One of the things that the three schools have all implemented is Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports or PBIS. The goal is to reinforce positive behavior and teach children how they should be acting. All three principals told the board that they have seen an improvement in student behavior since the start of the program this school year.

Brandy Ross, principal of Mattawa Elementary School, said that she has seen the number of office referrals go down since November and that they have been teaching teachers “how to handle discipline in the classroom.”

The school board voted to put a levy on the February 2020 ballot. The levy, if passed, would collect $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. They also discussed putting together community presentations to educate voters on what the levy will fund.

Rachal Pinkerton may be reached via email rpinkerton@suntribunenews.com.