District Approves Support Services For Calabasas Teachers

CALABASAS, CA — The Las Virgenes Unified School District board of education on Tuesday approved a grant to provide free mental health services to district employees.

The services are part of a two-year grant from the Los Angeles County Office of Education. The services will be voluntary, confidential and free, according to a supplemental document for Tuesday's meeting. The program is intended to "assist employees struggling with work-related and personal concerns which may be adversely affecting the employee."

The decision to approve the grant was a "no brainer," said Clara Finneran, assistant superintendent of education.

"Our staff ... have been on the front-lines. [They are] the source of foundational support for our kids and our families — of course, that means they are absorbing the challenges and being the rock for their classrooms, for their playgrounds, their campuses," said Ryan Gleason, assistant superintendent for administrative services.

Though the district already provides mental health services through the district's counseling center, staff may be able to speak more candidly with independent services, Gleason said.

LACOE already has a system in place to offer these mental health services, so they should become available quickly, Gleason said.