CHATTANOOGA, Tenn — The Hamilton County School Board will hear from dozens of students at its meeting Thursday afternoon, where they’ll once again discuss access to mental health services in the district’s schools.
During that meeting, board members voted to table Board Member Ben Connor’s amendment to reinstate Centerstone, and in favor of letting a Request for Proposal (RFP) process go forward instead.
Ahead of that vote, several adults spoke about their own struggles with mental health.
I was at Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the night before I had seriously, strongly considered suicide, and I told the pastor that that morning. What I didn’t know is that he had gone to grad school with one of the guidance counselors at my school and told him, said Hamilton County resident Matt Adams.
Meantime, student Adah Herndon talked about the importance of mental health and the pain of losing her brother saying:
Everything I am now is not who I was, every room I go in, every place I sit, every item of clothing I put on, every color I see, looks wrong, feels wrong, is wrong.
At one point, a board member asked Reed Hampton, head of the Hamilton County School Democrats to leave.
Moments before, that same board member asked Reed not to mention Centerstone, arguing Reed did not sign up for the proper time slot to speak.
You’ve given us a speech. Do not make the last statement.
Watch a livestream of the meeting below:
This comes after the board voted in August to end their agreement with Centerstone, a private health care company — and after last month’s meeting, which ended with one board member storming off while screaming “blood on your hands!“
Centerstone previously offered in-school therapy for students at no extra cost to the school district.
Some board members who voted to end the Centerstone agreement cited concerns over background checks, a lack of transparency, and the organization’s perceived ‘ideology.’
In September, board member Ben Connor proposed a policy revision that would let Centerstone return temporarily, provided that new safeguards were put in place.
That same month, a school board meeting turned contentious, with dozens of students and community members speaking out in defense of keeping Centerstone. Tensions flared, with emotional testimonies, public protests, and disruptions during the meeting.
By late September, questions remained about what, if anything, would replace Centerstone’s services. Many families expressed frustration and concern over the lack of support for students.
This month, the district opened a Request for Proposals to seek new mental health providers, aiming to offer families more options. Centerstone has since expressed interest in renewing its partnership under revised terms.
Ultimately, board members voted Thursday to approve a committee to discuss the bids, but they added several changes.
The first change allows two student board members —Starr and Ryan — to serve on the committee although they do not have voting powers.
The other change allows both a principal and a teacher to serve on the committee as well.
Depend on us to keep you posted.
Watch our previous coverage: