North Cook News

A committee has presented research along with a suggestion for a curriculum for the board to approve implementing in the Mount Prospect School District.

The issue of student mental health was brought up at the May 19 District 57 Board of Education Meeting. Social-emotional learning has become a focal point in schools, especially elementary schools, following the COVID-19 pandemic which took a toll on children’s mental health. There has been an uptick in depression and anxiety in school children as well as emergency room visits due to mental health.

"Social and emotional learning is a process for helping people develop the fundamental skills to effectively handle school and work, establish and maintain healthy peer relationships, and support their own personal development," School District Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Dr. Kristin Vonder Haar said at the meeting. "These skills include recognizing and managing emotions, caring for others, establishing positive relationships, making responsible decisions, and handling challenging decisions constructively. Research indicates that social and emotional development is essential for student readiness and student success."

"So in 2002, a group of Illinois educators, mental health professional child advocates and violence prevention advocates developed a task force that issued a report that ended up becoming the Children's Mental Health Act of 2003," Director of Student Services Sara Tyburski said. "With that report, the Illinois State Board of Education wrote and developed with the support of psychologists, counselors, social workers, and it was supported by CASL in the development of our standards. We ended up being the first state to have SCL standards for K-8. We are one of 27 states currently that have SCL standards, and all 50 states actually have standards for early childhood."

According to the minutes of the meeting, the cost of the program would be around $97,000. $31,000 for five years of teacher materials access and $66,000 one-time purchase for K-5 anti-bullying materials. The use of the curriculum was put to a vote within the board. Six members voted in favor of the curriculum while one voted against, passing the movement to accept the curriculum.