City Council
MEETING DATE: 7/11/2018
TITLE:
Title
PSUSD Funding Request for Drug Education Programming
End
FROM:
Charlie McClendon, City Manager
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council approve a request from the PSUSD for a $100,000 contribution to the creation and implementation of drug education programming and approve the necessary budget amendment.
Body
BACKGROUND:
A request was received from the Palm Springs Unified School District, which serves Cathedral City students, to participate with other West Valley cities and the district in funding a new drug education program for district students. Each City has been asked to contribute $100,000 to the effort. The Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage Councils have already approved their Cities' participation. This request was discussed during a two by two meeting with the school district held on May 15, 2018. Mayor Henry was the Council representative at that meeting.
DISCUSSION:
Staff in the Palm Springs Unified School District are concerned about the impact legal marijuana will have on an already concerning level of use that results in suspensions and expulsions of students across the district. Staff is noticing that easier availability coupled with more prevalent forms of packaged edibles are making it easier for students to access Cannabis, in particular. PSUSD has been exploring how to begin to address this issue for students and parents in PSUSD.
In an effort to curb increased substance abuse in adolescents, Palm Springs Unified School District proposes a three-pronged approach:
-Change Board policy regarding expulsion of students. Provide interventions when a student is first caught using on campus. (This action has been completed.) Students are referred for Insight for first offense. They are referred for Bridges with a Mental Health Therapists for a second offense, and not brought to expulsion until the third offense.
-Provide a substance abuse prevention curriculum for all students in grades 4, 6, and 9, or one grade level at elementary, middle and high school. In addition, provide parent workshops.
-Provide two full time substance abuse counselors to improve the current intervention groups, Insight and Bridges, as well as provide voluntary substance abuse counseling at all middle and high schools.
The curriculum PSUSD proposes to use is the Courage to Speak Foundation curriculum. Attached are evaluations by the Consultation Center at Yale School of Medicine and duBay Horton Associate, an external evaluation team, of the curriculum and its impact.
The elementary curriculum is designed around a book, called Sunny’s Story. Narrated through the eyes, ears and mind of the Sunny, the family beagle, this story tells of the ups and downs of his life with his young master, from the moment they meet at an animal shelter, as the dog watches his master’s decline due to drug use. Students process the book through writing, art, group discussion and scientific demonstration. They learn refusal skills.
In middle school, the students learn about substance abuse and learn to:
-Develop a clear decision-making strategy on drug avoidance
-Have a clear plan to refuse the inevitable offer of alcohol and other drugs.
-Identify 3-5 trusted adults who will support them when needed.
-Open a dialogue with parents and other trusted adults about the dangers of drugs in teenagers and other risky behaviors.
High school students learn about prescription drug misuse, marijuana, binge drinking and other drugs, in addition to deepening the lesson taught in middle school. The parent component teaches parents about the drug culture, setting boundaries, communicating the dangers of substance abuse and prevention, detection, intervention and support.
PSUSD proposes entering into a multi-city agreement that will help fund this initiative. Although Proposition 64 dollars are meant to help offset the costs school districts could experience as a result of legalization, as yet those dollars are not flowing to districts nor is there a clear picture as to what districts will be required to do with those dollars. PSUSD seeks to partner with its cities and other community agencies in order to be proactive in education for students and families and provide a more robust treatment option, given the scarce resources in the valley for student substance abuse treatment.
PSUSD is asking each city to contribute $100,000 annually toward funding this project. This-multi-city collaborative would meet to evaluate the use of the funds and the effectiveness’ and to be able to leverage school district staff and approaches to best reach the community with this this education and support effort.
PROPOSED COSTS
The initial cost of the curriculum is $116,920.00 (This includes the parent program and training for parent trainers). For each additional year the approximate cost is $ 4,950.00, plus replacement of any copies of Sunny’s Story novels.)
Substance abuse counselor: Top salary currently is $125,088 plus benefits. (Preferably there would be two).
Clerical support: $50,000 (If we get two substance abuse counselors, we would like to have night hours at the clinic. This means we’d need at least part time support at night. This is at the top end.)
IN KIND CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PSUSD
Family Engagement trainers for parent program as well as facilities and custodial for those trainings.
Reproduction of lessons (the cost is for teacher guides. We will still need to make copies).
Mental Health facilities will be provided (including custodial).
Mental Health coordinator and clerical support during the day.
Facilities at school sites for counseling sessions.
Communication and outreach regarding services available to students and families.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The request is for $100,000. This is not in the budget, therefore a budget amendment is required.
ATTACHMENTS:
Click here to enter text.