School commissioner candidate Yasmine Harris challenged a Coeur d’Alene school district mental health program established five years ago to help students cope with a wave of tragic suicides.
“I’m here tonight on behalf of a parent who felt like their voice wasn’t being heard,” Harris told the school board at last week’s regular meeting.
The program is Sources of Strength at Skyway Elementary School. The parent was unable to remove her son from class unless she picked him up each time, which is not an option because she works full time, Harris explained, on behalf of the parent . Additionally, SOS includes liberal ideas around family, gender identity and spirituality, Harris told administrators.
Idaho Education News requested an explanation of the program. Stefany Bales, the district’s community relations director, directed EdNews to the nonprofit’s website. Use this link to learn more about SOS, a program that promotes mental health improvement and suicide prevention. It is supported by the State Department of Education.
“SOS was introduced to the Coeur d’Alene School District in 2018 after the district experienced the tragedies of several student deaths and a death of administrator of suicide. As Kootenai County has a higher than average suicide rate, the community and district recognize the need to support our children, many of whom have been impacted by these deaths and/or were struggling themselves. SOS has become an integral part of the district’s approach to helping students by providing them with opportunities to build resilience by focusing on their strengths and healthy relationships,” Bales wrote in an email response.
Approximately 4,200 elementary students, 200 middle school students and 47 high school students participate in classes, programs or clubs. Administrators adopted it in 2018 for secondary schools and in 2022 for elementary schools, after SDE proposed an elementary program.
Before adopting it, the district created a committee “to study the possibility of adding this program to the district’s elementary schools.” as part of their health curriculum”, according to district documents. By a margin of 6 to 2, the committee favored implementation. Three parents and five district staff members served on the committee. Bales provided a document that details their work. Click on here to read it.
The school district maintains a website page which provides details about the program. “Parents and other interested community members have the right to consult with the SOS program during the adoption process and/or at the district office,” Bales wrote. “At any level, parents can choose to remove their children from classes they are not comfortable with. »
At the secondary level, SOS is a club format that students join. When students indicate they are interested in joining an SOS club, their parent or guardian is notified by letter to obtain permission. At the elementary level, letters are sent before students begin the program “that clearly spell out the opt-out process,” Bales wrote.
At the meeting, Harris said: “There should be another adult and a room available for every half hour taught, for children whose parents want to protect them and teach our own take on this subject at home , where it belongs. The fact that this teacher gave him such opposition is extremely frustrating and discouraging. This is another example of why walking away is not the right option. This should always be an opt-in option.
Bales said it was a misunderstanding. “There is no district policy that directs parents to pick up their child if they choose to remove them from SOS education. After investigating the specific situation at Skyway…it became clear that there was a misunderstanding. Among the five parents who withdrew, some wanted to pick up their children. Consistent with policy, the practice in all eleven elementary schools is to work with disengaged families by providing their child with an alternative activity in an alternative, supervised location.
Harris said: “This mom is right. “She absolutely should have the right to remove her child from this situation, but we see that parents’ voices are neither heard nor respected.”
“Parents have the right to know and understand what their children learn and how they learn it. They have the right to ask questions, view the curriculum and understand their child’s academic record,” according to Bales.
The SOS survey question “assumes that the speaker(s) at Monday’s board meeting provided factual information about the SOS program and its effects.” Those who have spoken on this topic have given their opinions, and they are invited to do so,” Bales wrote.
“The facts are that SOS is a foundational and widely accepted program used across the country to reduce youth suicide. Some argue that SOS should not be used, but they provide no meaningful alternative to effectively raise suicide awareness, support ALL of our students, or reduce the number of young people who commit suicide each year.
She added, “SOS does not mention or teach about fairness, race, ethnicity, or privilege. It does not contain any language or discussion of gender, gender identity, sexuality, or sexual preference.
SOS teaches well-being, well-being and healthy living. According to Bales, this encourages strong family bonds and suggests students lean on their family’s faith or spirituality for strength.
Harris has a different opinion. “I think we need to do better, especially when we continue to preach mental health, inclusion and positivity. It seems to be a one-way street. Parental voice and choice must come first, no matter what. So why are we making it so difficult for them?
