Dover Area school officials signed off a new policy that would expand mental health screening and related services for students, despite opposition from one board member.

The board considered the trauma-informed policy, at the recommendation of school administrators, to respond to growing mental health issues among students. The revisions were drafted by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association. It includes training for staff and an age-appropriate, social-emotional curriculum for students.

Nationwide, K-12 students reported deteriorating mental health, a trend that worsened during the height of the COVID pandemic -- although data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that many indicators improved slightly between 2021 and 2023.

Forty percent of students surveyed by the CDC last year reported experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, up from 30% a decade ago but down slightly from 42% in 2021. Twenty percent said they'd seriously considered attempting suicide, a figure that's remained relatively stable in the last decade.

"We can't pretend that they don't have needs," Dover's interim Superintendent Catherine Houck said, explaining the students are suffering from mental health issues, which is a barrier to learning. She said the survey helps identify those needs. "The safety and well-being of our students is our primary job."

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One board member, Craig Kindig, objected to the policy changes, stating that he believes trauma is part of life. School teachers should not be social workers, he said.

"I'm just troubled by how we've gotten to a point in society where we are starting to label children rather than realizing children are children," he said.

Houck said the student surveys helped identify some students struggling with thoughts of suicide -- whose parents may not always be aware that there's a problem.

One of those parents, Holly Verbjar, spoke up for the policy Tuesday night.

"As a parent who has received a phone call after a mental health screening, I can tell you that they work," she said, explaining her family was lucky enough to find out and get the help for the child beforehand. "But we are proof that they work."

She urged the board to continue the assessments and suggested the school possibly administer the surveys more often. Verbjar said taking those surveys away could take away something that could save a student's life.

The updates to the policy were some citations were changed and who the district reports to with the data. Board member Rob McKinney confirmed with Interim Superintendent Catherine Houck that other policies have been updated to send information to that department, too.

Kindig said he heard all the staff and residents' comments in favor of the policy but was still concerned.

"I still believe there are issues with this policy," he said, explaining he didn't think it should be completely removed, but he also didn't feel comfortable approving it.

He called for it to be tabled and reviewed later with other policies.

Board member Allen Hogan confirmed with Houck that parents can opt out of the screener. She added parents can also request to view the screeners beforehand at the school.

Board members David Conley, Terry Emig, Hogan, McKinney, Heidi Mease, Karen Miller, Carmen Witmer and David Wolverton voted to adopt the updated policies.

Kindig was the only member who voted against it.

Dover's next board meeting is planned for 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at 101 Edgeway Road, Dover. It can be watched in person or online through the district's YouTube channel.