The Fayette school board last week gave unanimous approval to hire a part-time home school counselor. The new position will cost the district between $15,000 and $20,000 per year.

Superintendent Jill Wiseman said that the new counselor will work closely with the current Daly/Clark counselor to coordinate a variety of services for students and their families. “Examples would include referring, coordinating and monitoring mental health services, serving on K-8 CARE teams for academic and behavioral interventions for students, assisting our 504 and Foster Care Coordinator with case management, monitoring attendance and assisting in minimizing absences for students through contact with parents, and collaborating with community agencies to assist students and their families with resources,” she said. 

Cassidy Spaeder is the current Daly/Clark counselor. She told the board that an additional part-time counselor would be very helpful. “With the amount of students I serve as the only counselor in two buildings, it can get very overwhelming.”

Spaeder said that there were 18 students in 2017 that were receiving outside counseling services. By last week, the number had jumped to 50. She said that increase is not going to change. 

She said the social and emotional need is growing, compounded by the covid-19 pandemic. “I still have lots of parents wanting this resource.”

The new counselor will help act as a go-between between the district and families with students who are facing such issues involving attendance and mental health problems.

“We will always need the position, but it is a more urgent need right now,” said Daly Elementary principal Cheri Huster.