The Wayland Board of Education voted 5-1 Monday night to give an Internet-based mental health assistance program a try at least from now to August 2024.

The board agreed to contract with the Clayful firm at no cost to the local district because a $92,448 grant from the State of Michigan will pay for it, at least during the first year. After that, the school board will review the program and see if they’re willing to pay for it.

Clayful offers immediate contact with troubled students in crisis via the Internet, whether by phone or computer, which proponents say is useful if the need arises in off-school hours. Indeed, there is a local 988 hotline available for suicide, but Clayful would be more professionally oriented.

Board Trustee Jeff Koon, who cast the dissenting vote, asked Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Theresa Fulk if it would be better instead to hire more social workers on site, but she replied, “There are not enough (social workers) to meet the needs of the students. It’s been difficult to find and hire social workers.”

Fulk said a position just recently filled by two hires sharing the job had been listed more than a year ago.

“The pool is very slim and it’s been very hard to find (qualified) people,” she added.

Koon later said he was voting against the proposed contract because he’s uncomfortable with the idea the schools might come between parents and their children.

Board President Dan Cassini added, “Some believe we’re outsourcing their child’s mental health.”

Fulk acknowledged that students indeed can contact Clayful without their parents’ consent, but noted parents can opt out of the program.

“We feel that Clayful is an extension of the (mental health) services we provide,” she explained.

Assistant Supt. for Finances and Operations Patricia Velie estimated the cost or renewing the contract with Clayful after that free first tear would be about $80,000.

In other business at Monday night’s meeting, the board:

• Noted Wayland’s three Outstanding People in Education this year are Cierra Onken, Dawn Stein and Chris Teller.
• Heard reports from Pete Zondervan on his participation in a Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning (MACUL) conference and from Theresa Dobry and Norm Taylor at the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) conference.
• Renewed the fourth year of its second five-year contract with Chartwells Food Service. The board also agreed to spend $295,178 from the food service budget to effect repairs and renovations at the middle school cafeteria. Flooring may need to be replaced, which add the cost by $100,000.
• Agreed to the low bid of $33,124 from Stafford Smith to replace the dishwasher at Pine Street Elementary.