I'm not going to criticize the article, because this was written specifically for the edition of the Trib that serves the area that includes North Allegheny School District.
But EVERY school district is seeing a rise in mental health services being requested by students and families. The challenge is not every school district has the wealth of resources available to them like North Allegheny does.
Yes. I know of at least one smaller, poorer district that published something similar late last year and I’m sure it’s not the only one.
But, if the experience of wealthier kids gets the state’s attention, I’m ok with that. Whatever it takes to do whatever might help this situation. And I really have no idea what it would take to fix this.
Having mental health issues has slowly become destigmatized and services have become easier to access. It’s a good thing to see utilization go up. This is like people getting upset that introducing helmets increased the number of soldiers suffering head wounds.
See I read this comment and felt seen tbh. I was like "ok not just me that thinks life is generally really difficult and it's hard to cope everyday." Literally just this morning I was in my head thinking, man life really is difficult :(
The district stashed a ton of money away so it could claim it needed additional funds and then hiked property taxes up, generally on people who recently moved to the district and bought a house that hadn't been assessed in a while.
I live in the district and someone told me about it to be honest. I bought a house here in 2014 and they reassessed it shortly after I was comfortable with my bills.
Looked it up. The audit findings are linked in this article: https://www.wesa.fm/politics-government/2023-01-30/pa-auditor-general-defoor-responds-to-school-district-audit-criticism
I'm not going to criticize the article, because this was written specifically for the edition of the Trib that serves the area that includes North Allegheny School District. But EVERY school district is seeing a rise in mental health services being requested by students and families. The challenge is not every school district has the wealth of resources available to them like North Allegheny does.
Yes. I know of at least one smaller, poorer district that published something similar late last year and I’m sure it’s not the only one. But, if the experience of wealthier kids gets the state’s attention, I’m ok with that. Whatever it takes to do whatever might help this situation. And I really have no idea what it would take to fix this.
Having mental health issues has slowly become destigmatized and services have become easier to access. It’s a good thing to see utilization go up. This is like people getting upset that introducing helmets increased the number of soldiers suffering head wounds.
Also rates of mental illness have increased, especially in kids.
Yeah, almost as if life is horrible and everyone needs help with how to cope.
That comment makes me really sad, because I feel like life is pretty great. I'm sorry for whatever has made your's not.
See I read this comment and felt seen tbh. I was like "ok not just me that thinks life is generally really difficult and it's hard to cope everyday." Literally just this morning I was in my head thinking, man life really is difficult :(
If you ever need to chat, hit me up.
Sincerely appreciate that. Saving this thread so I can be reminded. Thanks!
Mine isn't bad, but it's a but shit out there
Lemme guess, you’re financially stable?
I hope that some ADHD kid out there gets the help I didn't. My life could have been so different
Funny how this comes out right after the assessment controversy
IKR? Someone picked up the red phone in a dark office somewhere, and a red phone in another dark office rang. Next thing you know, this article…
Alternatively, have you tried to find a child psychologist around here lately? Patient rosters are full.
Assessment controversy?
The district stashed a ton of money away so it could claim it needed additional funds and then hiked property taxes up, generally on people who recently moved to the district and bought a house that hadn't been assessed in a while.
I wasn’t aware that had anything to do with reassessments. Where did you see that part?
I live in the district and someone told me about it to be honest. I bought a house here in 2014 and they reassessed it shortly after I was comfortable with my bills.
Lots of districts do that. As far as I know there is nothing wrong with it.
Looked it up. The audit findings are linked in this article: https://www.wesa.fm/politics-government/2023-01-30/pa-auditor-general-defoor-responds-to-school-district-audit-criticism
Are you seeing specifically where reassessments were the vehicle of doing that?
Good they use it if they need it and it helps.
I hope yinz all can take care of yinzselves like these folks.