District updates SEL, teen mental health training and Bigs & Littles mentorship

Renee Mark, coordinator of SEL and family engagement, briefed the board on April SEL activity and outlined plans for May. She said a Madison County Sheriff's Office sergeant presented internet-safety and bully-prevention material to every grade level on April 11, and Bridges hosted 11 students at a Madison County Youth Leadership Conference to practice leadership skills.

Mark described May events for Mental Health Awareness Month, including a presentation by the district social worker for secondary students and families about understanding and managing anxiety, lobby activities using a mental-health toolkit provided by Bridges, and the teen mental-health first-aid program for 10th graders. Mark said the six-session program teaches teens to identify and respond to signs of mental health and substance-use challenges among peers; she read remarks from an 11th-grade student, Brianna, who said the program "made a huge difference" and called it "seriously awesome."

Mark also gave a Bigs & Littles mentorship update and invited seventh-grade "big" students and a "little" to the meeting. The students described reading with littles, helping in writing time, and building dependable relationships; board members thanked them and encouraged continued participation.

Board members and staff thanked Mark and the student participants; no policy changes were proposed as part of the presentation.