"Are High Schools making the Grade at Addressing Mental Health?"*

Recommendations 8

• R2
  - School administrators need to extend the mental health curriculum beyond the Freshman health class within the 2023-24 school year. Response: We are proactively refining our advisory sessions to encompass more comprehensive mental health modules for students at all levels. Our initiatives include the Habits of Mind program, Mental Health Awareness campaigns, engaging speakers, and occasional therapy dog sessions during finals.
• R4
  - Utilize more externally developed programs to maximize mental health and substance abuse prevention, i.e., FNL, Red Ribbon Week, and Every 15 Minutes. Response: Our schools actively participate in Red Ribbon Week, with Nipomo High School (NHS) and Arroyo Grande High School (AGHS) hosting vibrant Friday Night Live (FNL) programs.
• R5
  - More campus staff and teachers need to be trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid or an equivalent program within the next school year. Response: While some staff members are already trained, our aim for the 2023-2024 school year is to certify additional high school staff in Youth Mental Health First Aid, equipping them to better support our students.
• R6
  -Work toward a full-time SRO at all high schools. Response: AGHS benefits from a full-time SRO. For NHS, Lopez High, and Central Coast New Tech High School, which have part-time SROs, we are in discussions with the SLO Sheriff's Department to enhance their presence.
• R7
  - Where possible, employ full-time permanent mental health staff at every high school. Response: Currently, we have mental health therapists contracted one day weekly for all high schools, supplemented by external agency counselors. We've expanded our Special Education mental health clinicians from 2 to 4, who, in addition to serving the whole district, render critical care services at our high schools.
• R8
  - Provide widespread training of campus staff on Narcan use within the 2023-24 school year. Response: We have 32 trained staff members in Narcan administration. We offer annual training to all employees, which increases the trained number of staff every year. Notably, Lucia Mar USD was the pioneering district in the county to introduce Narcan and adopt a Board Policy (2022).
• R9
  - All campuses should make an anonymous bullying reporting program available within the 2023-24 school year. Response: LMUSD proudly operates an anonymous Bullying Tip Line, prominently displayed via posters with QR codes across our campuses, district offices, and online platforms. Students receive consistent reminders about its availability throughout the school year in their advisory classrooms. The widespread access and availability of the tip line has allowed LMUSD to respond and successfully intervene in many different scenarios since the system was adopted.
• R10
  - Suicide awareness training needs to be conducted annually for teachers, staff and students. Response: This training became mandatory for all school personnel in August 2023. In the 2023-2024 academic year, we will introduce this training to middle and high school students through their advisory classes. We've also incorporated suicide hotline details on our mental health posters and student ID cards. Thank you for your attention and dedication to the well-being of our students. We are committed to continual improvements in these areas to best serve our community. Warm regards, Paul Fawcett, Ed.D. Superintendent