Aug 17, 2018 By Mark Soroka for The 3 min read

Brownsville Area School District is moving forward with plans to bring mental health services directly to its students.

At its monthly meeting Thursday, the Brownsville Area School Board approved a proposal from Geith Shahoud, M.D., to deliver behavioral health services to students who attend Brownsville’s elementary, middle and high schools. Dr. Shahoud and his staff will place two mental health therapists in the district’s buildings on an as-needed basis.

“These therapists will provide a higher level of individual and family care onsite,” said Superintendent Dr. Keith Hartbauer. “They also have the ability to recommend medication management that will be overseen by Dr. Shahoud. This will allow many of our students the opportunity to receive care and not have to worry about transportation to and from the doctor’s office. Services will begin immediately.”

Also, during the meeting, Bevan Freshwater, a Vietnam War veteran and grandfather of a Brownsville student, presented a signed petition to the school board to show support for placing armed guards in the district’s buildings. This summer, the district paid to have its guards attend an Act 235 training in the use of lethal weapons. Michael Timko, the district’s director of security, is preparing an armed security plan for the board to review. After the plan goes through the policy committee, it will be discussed at a work session then it will be presented to the board for a vote.

According to Hartbauer, the district will be seeking public input throughout the process.

“Student and staff safety are paramount,” he said. “We have taken many steps regarding personnel, facilities, procedures and policy. We have staff and student training scheduled for this year and we will continue to work with local emergency agencies to improve our safety process.”

Timko oversees a team of five full-time guards and two part-time guards.

In other business, the board:

n Approved a contract between Merakey Pennsylvania/NHS Pennsylvania and the Brownsville Area School District for the 2018-19 school year

n Approved the high school and middle school handbooks

n Approved a resolution opposing any changes to the collection of local earned income taxes with Southwest Regional Tax Collection Agency

n Approved a motion to reject all bids for the sale or lease of oil and gas rights owned by the district

n Approved the filing certificate for the rating change with S&P Global on behalf of the Brownsville Area School District

n Approved the Disabled Veterans Real Property Tax Exemption Certificate

n Congratulated the Students in Action Team for winning a national competition in Washington, D.C.