PEORIA, Ariz. — In a surprising move on Thursday night, the Peoria school board voted to reject a federal mental health grant worth $275,000, which had been crucial in funding social workers on school campuses. The grant, which benefited over a thousand students last year, was decisively opposed by board members Heather Rooks and Becky Proudfit, while David Sandoval and Melissa Ewing supported the extension.
The decision came despite a heartfelt plea from District Superintendent KC Somers, who urged the board to maintain the program “for the sake of students and families.” The grant-funded social workers provided essential services, including emotional support, assistance with homelessness, and grief counseling.
The Arizona Educators Association (AEA), representing public school teachers, criticized the vote. AEA President Marisol Garcia alleged that Rooks and Proudfit were driven by an ideological agenda rather than practical concerns for students. “We’ve seen this pattern in districts across the state,” Garcia said. “It’s a troubling trend where some board members seem more influenced by far-right media than by the needs of their constituents.”
District spokesperson Danielle Airey reported that a technical issue prevented the meeting from being recorded, but the district is now evaluating the impact of the board’s decision. “We will develop a plan for next steps to continue to support students with minimal interruption,” Airey stated.
Rooks defended her vote, asserting that her decision was based on concerns about the grant’s stipulations. She questioned the use of social workers in providing psychotherapy and expressed skepticism about federal grants. Rooks also voiced worries about liability associated with interns conducting group therapy.
Airey clarified that the social workers funded by the grant provided general emotional support, such as helping students manage stress to return to class, rather than psychotherapy. For more intensive needs, social workers were trained to connect families with external resources.
The grant-funded services from last year included:
- Coordinating emotional support resources
- Providing on-site support for grief events, including those related to student and staff deaths
- Addressing absenteeism
- Assisting 300 homeless students
- Supporting 119 foster care students
“Moving away from this program is also moving away from what parents are asking us to provide,” said Ewing, who expressed disappointment over the board’s decision. She emphasized that the program was a valuable partner in meeting the needs of students to help them succeed in the classroom.
Rooks also cited concerns raised by a parent who felt their child was pressured into participating in group therapy. “We are crossing into dangerous territory,” Rooks said. She also raised concerns about the role of interns in providing therapy.
Ewing countered that the schools have robust processes for obtaining parental consent for any services provided, and issues are addressed as they arise.
With the grant now rejected, the district faces the challenge of finding alternative ways to support students who previously benefited from the program.
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