WESTFALL, PA — Superintendent John Bell explained that district’s counseling staff reviewed “a ton of data in four months” to produce the presentation made to the Delaware Valley Board of Education on January 17.

School counseling work at Delaware Valley can involve dealing with academic, interpersonal, mental and physical health issues for up to 4,500 people, according to the report. The assortment of issues counselors work on range from how Kindergarteners interact with one another to whether family issues at home, drugs, or alcohol might be impacting a student’s performance. The district provides 21 in-house and collaborative programs with state and municipal agencies for student programs serving various ages and classes.

The reports from August to December were initiated by referrals from teachers, parents, or others. The Instructional Support Team (IST), which works with primary and elementary students with special needs, received 113 referrals in the primary and three elementary schools.

The Student Assistance Program (SAP) is the clearinghouse for more serious social issues in the middle and high school. The SAP team received 176 referrals during the time period.

According to the district website, “A student referral would be indicated if there are specific behaviors observed or noted in a student’s performance. A student referred to the SAP team may be experiencing behavioral changes such as attendance concerns.” A Student Attendance Improvement Program develops remedialplans and handled 314 referrals, from all seven schools, in those four months.

SAP referrals deal with changes in “affect, emotional swings, sudden change in work ethic, attention, or participation in school activities; family stressors [or] potential substance abuse.” These referrals may include several levels of review and oversight, possibly lasting several months.

Nationwide in 2016, suicide was reportedly the leading cause of non-accidental death among children aged 10 to 14, as well those aged 15 to 24, according to DV counseling staff. Any reported references of a DV student’s speaking of suicide will prompt a SAP referral. If a primary review calls for it, SAP can refer students for professional suicide counseling. There were 76 suicide screenings during the period.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, in 2016 there were 436 deaths due to suicide among children ages 10 to 14; 5,723 deaths due to suicide among people 15 to 24 and 366 deaths due to suicide among adults 24 to 34. Suicide is the leading cause of non-accidental deaths in these age groups.

In other business, the board approved: $15,581 in change orders for the career and technical education (CTE) project, the bulk of which, $11,507, was for additional storm drains for existing roof drains; an undescribed, new spring course; and an instructor for the DV Adult and Community Education program. The board accepted six resignations, including two with regret: Dingman-Delaware Primary School teacher Julia Dye (who will leave at the end of current school year) and Frances Rosario of the non-professional staff (February 5).

Following a closed executive session, the board voted unanimously to dismiss an unnamed employee who was described only as a “classified employee,” and further approved the 180-school-day expulsion of a student, identified only by a number.