MVSD wants to be notified if a student is present during a police call involving a “traumatic event.” Under a proposed pilot program, the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), Winthrop Marshal and Twisp Police Department would notify MVSD if they responded to a “traumatic event” in which a student was involved or an observer.
Law enforcement would send an email to a school contact with the student’s name and the subject line “Handle with Care.” The email itself would not contain additional information, but it would allow additional communication with the child or law enforcement about an incident.
MVSD School Superintendent Tom Venable said the program would be modeled on the Handle with Care (HWC) program in Yakima, where there is a partnership between Yakima School District, Yakima Police Department, and a local mental health agency. In an email to MVE, Venable referenced a video that describes the partnership. In it, a school resource officer, who is a liaison with the police department, can provide additional details to school officials as long as it does not interfere with an investigation.
According to the video, examples of information law enforcement could share with a school district include a mental health issue in a child’s household, drug use, parental separation, or a household member’s incarceration. Raven Aae, one of the proponents of the program, told the school board on May 15 that car accidents, domestic violence, and assaults would be included as reportable events.
Other parties that could be privy to this information include school administrators, principals, counselors, the child’s teachers and support personnel, according to the video. Venable said the point of contact for MVSD would be “building administrators, school counselors, and school nurse.”
Following an HWC notification, MVSD staff could speak directly with a child to gather more information about the child’s home environment. When asked if parents would be notified, Venable replied, “Good question…. Generally speaking, parents of minors are notified of concerns if they observe behaviors that are of significant concern and warrant the possibility of a referral for a mental health evaluation. For students 13 and older, student consent is required in most situations per FERPA.”
House Bill 1296, passed by the state legislature this year, removes a parent’s previously inscribed rights to access their child’s mental health records held by a school, regardless of a child’s age.
The program needs to be approved by the school board before implementation, but the OCSO and Winthrop Marshal have already agreed to partner with MVSD, according to Venable. The program requires staff training and establishment of designated points of contact between school and law enforcement.
“We’re shifting from really one-way form of direction of communication to two-way exchange with agencies that are working together to protect and serve youth,” said Venable during his report to the school board on May 28.
“This is a great example of providing us with an opportunity to potentially take action and support our youth,” he added.
The pilot program comes on the heels of Venable’s announcement that the district would face budget cuts next school year. At a school board meeting May 15, Venable expressed his desire to make reductions away from the classroom to minimize changes to students’ experiences.
HWC was established by the Department of Justice in 2009. It was brought to MVSD’s attention by the MVSD School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC), which includes Winthrop Marshal Ty Sheehan. In an address to the school board May 15, Aae, who also sits on the advisory committee, said HWC was “low hanging fruit” in terms of cost and effect. She said the program is also being proposed to Little Star School.
“Having CPS show up unannounced can be quite disruptive to a class. Having that notification can provide children with proactive insulating measures to help curtail the negative impacts of the trauma that they’ve experienced,” said Aae.
Aae said students could potentially receive clean clothing, food from the cafeteria, more quiet time, and understanding from teachers if homework isn’t complete.
Venable said if the school board approves the pilot program, it would be implemented in the 2025-26 school year.
