HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. — Speaking with one voice, principals at Hamilton County Schools say they’re ‘deeply concerned’ over the Hamilton County School Board’s recent decision to end its partnership with a company that provides in-school therapeutic services.
Two weeks ago, Hamilton County School Board members declined to renew its agreement with private company Centerstone, which has provided therapeutic and other services for children whose parents sign up for treatment.
The end of that agreement caused the abrupt end treatment for more than 2,500 students in the district who use Centerstone without any prior notice, according to a statement released Friday morning by the Hamilton County Principals Association (HCPA), who calls the end of coverage an ‘unacceptable gap.’ (Read that full statement at the end of this story).
We are continuing to see a sharp rise in student mental health needs, a crisis that directly impacts academic success, school climate, and student well-being. The decision to terminate our work with Centerstone runs counter to our mission to serve the whole child. The Hamilton County Principals Association strongly urges the Hamilton County School Board to revisit this decision.
Debate on the night of the school board vote on Cornerstone, and the fallout in the days after the vote to end the agreement, was contentious…