FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – The Florence School District One Board held a budget hearing meeting before a called meeting on Tuesday.
 
The school board had its first reading of the 2018-2019 general fund budget.
 
The district said the budget is allocated as follows:
  • 86.1% is spent on teaching, transporting, supervising, and counseling students
  • 5.2% is spent on central and fiscal services, human resources, technology, and general administration
  • 8.7% is spent on operating and maintaining facilities
 
The Behavioral Health Counselor Program has been a major topic of discussion this year.
 
There was a proposal at the school board’s last meeting that would have cut four behavioral health counselor positions.
 
However, the first reading of the budget on Tuesday included 18 behavioral health counselors in the general fund.
 
“We currently have 18 behavioral health specialists, and we have 18 in this budget,” said School Board Chairman Barry Townsend. “Our goal is going to be to have a dedicated behavioral health specialist at each of our schools.”
 
Behavioral Health Counselor, Dana Cockfield, said she’s had to asked the board in the past to add the position into the general fund, and hopes to see that happen for the 2018-2019 school year.
 
“I feel much more positive that the school district, and the board has listened to the needs of the students, the needs of the schools, the community, and has agreed to bring back 18 positions which is what we have now,” Cockfield told News13.
 
The behavioral health counselor of 15 years said she still has questions about the program in the budget.
 
“There’s still a question about whether or not we’ve technically lost our jobs and have to reapply for next year,” she said. “And the concern is that we could lose our accrued sick leave, and some of us have been at this state for a long time so there’s a lot of that, and then also a lapse in medical coverage which is very important to have.” 
 
Townsend said the board does not make the decision to have counselors re-apply for their positions.
 
“That is an administrative action, it’s not a board action,” Townsend said. “That comes out of the fact that they [behavioral health counselors] were working under a one-year contract. So the contract has ended at the end of the year, and it’s my understanding that is what’s triggering the re-application process.”
The school board chair also said counselors might have to switch schools for extra coverage.
 
“There’s some discussion tonight about maybe sharing some schools and stuff next year to cover the ones that are not currently covered,” said Cockfield. “But it’s definitely step in the right direction from earlier when we thought that we were going to lose positions.”
 
Townsend stressed the importance of the behavioral health program.
 
“Seeing the things that are happening in the country right now, and just how important looking after the mental health of our students is, in order to maintain a safe place for our students to learn, it’s got to be a priority.”
 
Townsend said the district is working to get a grant from the state that would allow the district to add more behavioral health counselors.
 
“We won’t know that until maybe the mid-way point of next school year,” he said. “It’s not something we can actually plan for right now, but we’re hopeful that will be the case.”
 
Cockfield said if the district does receive the grant, she hopes the board will eventually add more positions into the general fund.
 
“If it adds positions and more kids get coverage I think that’s great,” she said. “I know that it could only last for five years so I don’t know if the board and the district has plans over those five years to try and add that into the working budget,” she continued. “So we wouldn’t be, again, in a situation where we could lose counselors. Anything that we could add so that kids get the services they need is much appreciated and great.”
 
Cockfield said she feels a little more relieved since she spoke to the board in March.
 
“It’s been a rough two years,” said Cockfield. “It’s been very stressful. Parents have questions. Students have questions. The schools have questions. We have questions,” she continued. “I feel like we’re finally getting some answers, and opening up dialogue and communication which is always a beautiful thing.”
 
The school board will vote on the 2018-2019 budget at its next meeting on June 14.