Minutes 02-22-2022 Virtual Joint Meeting with the Schools

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13 Commissioner Richards asked Orange County Schools where they were in the implementation of the plan for behavioral health and the SEL. Dr. Felder said that the initiatives are underway now and some are scheduled for next year. She said those include identifying SEL curriculum for students. Commissioner Richards said she would like to know what is in place now and what is scheduled for next year, in detail and if that could be provided to the Commissioners later. Sherita Cobb said that the presentation included what they are doing now and that next semester they are looking to remain consistent in their social and emotional learning curriculum. She said they want to find something that works for Orange County schools. Commissioner Richards asked Dr. Charlos Banks of Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools for similar information on the timeframe for their proposal. Dr. Banks said that in 2020 the process was identified and included the SEL screener. She said they also had in place curriculum for social emotion learning. She said they have also had a collocated mental health service. She said that this includes youth first aid, crisis prevention, and a district-wide training on resiliency. She said they implemented the mental health specialist position in high school full time. She said they have been successfully able to conduct the SEL readiness analysis. She said there is a comprehensive next steps report. She said that all staff will complete mental health professional development. She said they are also working on implementing a community wide engagement. She said there needs to be high school learning curriculum identified to support students. She said it needs to be integrated in academic instruction. She said that they are looking to expand the mental health support specialist positions in the elementary and middle school levels. Commissioner Hamilton asked each school district if they have a definition of social emotional learning. She asked what the curriculum for social emotional learning looks like in the schools. She asked if it would be for all students and if it would be a separate class. She asked for an estimate of how many students fall into each tier. Dr. Felder said that social emotional learning or SEL, is a process where they help students gain and apply skills that help them manage their emotions, achieve goals, be able to show empathy and make caring decisions. She said that SEL and academic achievement go hand in hand. Dr. Hamlett said that social emotional learning is explicitly taught and is embedded in the instructional framework for the school district. She said that it is not a separate class but that it is imbedded in the curriculum. She said they include relationship and soft skills that are needed to interact with others. Commissioner Hamilton asked if every classroom was doing this. Dr. Felder said that every classroom is the goal. She said that she knows that it is a deliberate focus from both districts to have it in every classroom. Dr. Banks said an example is that morning classes start with morning gatherings and check-ins before the lesson is started. She said that it provides an opportunity to give students a voice so that teachers can attend to those needs. She said that social awareness is being aware of the world around them and expanding that understanding of themselves and others in their overall surroundings. She said that all learning is social and emotional. Commissioner Fowler asked if things have become too academic. She said that emphasizing social and emotional development is important before learning other things. She asked how many vacancies are in the positions that Orange County and Chapel Hill Carrboro have. Dr. Felder said they have fifty-three vacant positions. She said the school system has about 1,100 positions. She said that they started the school year with more vacancies than ever before.