District posts comprehensive plan with a focus on mental‑health staffing, family engagement and required trainings
February 23, 2026 | Jersey Shore Area SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania
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The Jersey Shore Area School District presented its comprehensive plan to the board on Feb. 23 and opened the document for the statutorily required 28‑day public review period ahead of a March 23 board vote and a state submission deadline at the end of March.
Dr. Osenbach, who presented the plan, described how the document synthesizes district data and stakeholder feedback to produce goals and three‑year action steps tied to district mission and vision. Key priorities include increasing supports for students’ mental health, expanding outreach for free and reduced‑price lunch applications and parent‑teacher engagement, growing clothing supports (the district's care closet and a ‘‘Bulldog locker room’’), and continuing school‑wide positive behavior interventions.
The plan calls for strengthening counseling and social‑work‑type staffing: Osenbach said the district currently has one counselor assigned district‑wide for elementary students and that middle and high schools have roughly two to two‑and‑a‑half counselors each; administrators told the board they are exploring staffing realignment and external partnerships. The district said it is piloting an intensive behavioral health services program in partnership with the county and a provider that delivers school‑based support funded by insurance and a county grant, subject to parent consent and referral processes.
The comprehensive plan also includes an induction and professional development schedule required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), including Act 55 trainings that cover situational awareness, trauma‑informed approaches, behavioral health awareness, suicide and bullying awareness, and substance‑use awareness. Administrators said some of those trainings are required yearly and others on a rotating basis, and that the district will continue to use federal Title I/II/IV funds for eligible staffing and software supports.
Dr. Osenbach asked the board and the public to submit feedback through the posted plan and reminded members that the plan will be scheduled for formal action at the March 23 meeting so the district can meet the state submission deadline.
Dr. Osenbach, who presented the plan, described how the document synthesizes district data and stakeholder feedback to produce goals and three‑year action steps tied to district mission and vision. Key priorities include increasing supports for students’ mental health, expanding outreach for free and reduced‑price lunch applications and parent‑teacher engagement, growing clothing supports (the district's care closet and a ‘‘Bulldog locker room’’), and continuing school‑wide positive behavior interventions.
The plan calls for strengthening counseling and social‑work‑type staffing: Osenbach said the district currently has one counselor assigned district‑wide for elementary students and that middle and high schools have roughly two to two‑and‑a‑half counselors each; administrators told the board they are exploring staffing realignment and external partnerships. The district said it is piloting an intensive behavioral health services program in partnership with the county and a provider that delivers school‑based support funded by insurance and a county grant, subject to parent consent and referral processes.
The comprehensive plan also includes an induction and professional development schedule required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), including Act 55 trainings that cover situational awareness, trauma‑informed approaches, behavioral health awareness, suicide and bullying awareness, and substance‑use awareness. Administrators said some of those trainings are required yearly and others on a rotating basis, and that the district will continue to use federal Title I/II/IV funds for eligible staffing and software supports.
Dr. Osenbach asked the board and the public to submit feedback through the posted plan and reminded members that the plan will be scheduled for formal action at the March 23 meeting so the district can meet the state submission deadline.
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