Safe Place program details still being worked out

The Brown County School Board of Trustees will vote this month on whether or not to establish the Safe Place program in Brown County schools. To do that, the boards need a memorandum of understanding.

“The youth need to know there are alternatives to running away,” said Judith Olds, executive director of Youth Connections. The best way is to talk with them face to face in the schools, she said.

Youth Connections works with teachers to fit programs in either during the school day, at lunch or after school. “Whatever you’ve got available, we’ll come and do it that way. Once we lay out the cards, kids will start talking,” she said.

If approved and signed, the memorandum would designate all schools in Brown County as official Safe Place sites.

Safe Place is a nationwide network of youth-friendly businesses, hotels, schools, fire stations, libraries and other public buildings where children and teens can go when they have a problem. They’re marked with diamond-shaped, yellow Safe Place signs.

Beyond giving children a safe place to go, the program trains volunteers to quickly connect children with a designated person who can talk to them and get help for their problem.

Youth Connections would train a group of school staff and teachers to respond to anyone showing up needing services.

Another component of the Safe Place plan is to start a host homes program, where young people can stay while they are in crisis or don’t have a place to go.

Olds said Oct. 19 that the program is still looking for host home volunteers in Brown County.

Anyone who has a spare bed and wants to open their home to a young person in crisis for up to 21 days is encouraged to contact Safe Place/Host Home Program Coordinator Dawn LaPLante at 317-738-3273. Her email is [email protected]. Training and a home inspection will be required.

School board approves personnel changes, retirements

The Brown County School Board of Trustees approved the following Oct. 19:

• Changing the retirement date of BCS occupational therapist Angie Aumage from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2 to give her more time to train her replacement. Laura Martinez replaces Aumage full-time with benefits, $50,000 per year, effective Oct. 23.
• Separating Brown County Junior High School cheer coach Sindy Woolems, effective immediately. This was not a termination. Terri Whitcomb was appointed to replace her, $1,117 stipend, effective immediately.
• Separating Brown County High School Eagle Academy teacher Rachel Hardy, effective Oct. 6. This was not a termination. BCHS intense intervention paraprofessional Alissa Newlin was appointed to replace her, $15 per hour, effective Oct. 16.
• Appointing Brown County Schools special needs bus monitor Melissa Jewell, part-time without benefits, $10.25 per hour, 180 days per year, five hours a day, effective Oct. 16. Replacement for Barbara Brock.
• Appointing BCJHS seventh-grade boys basketball coach Michael Roberts, $2,302 stipend, effective immediately. He is a replacement for Ryan Oliver.
• Appointing BCS special needs bus driver Mark Winters, full-time with benefits, $82 per day, effective immediately. He is a replacement for Leslie Dras.
• Transferring BCJHS paraprofessional Sue Thompson to BCJHS health assistant, $13.50 per hour, effective Nov. 2. She is a replacement for Pat Mulryan.