Future of WRAP funding in doubt / LJWorld.com

Lawrence and Douglas county

Program that helps at-risk students rests mostly on teacher salary negotiations

Kate Cavanaugh, a social worker in the WRAP Program at Prairie Park School, center, talks with Darian McHugh, left, and her brother Dillon, as they work on colorful creations in this May 2001 file photo. The city commission would like to increase aid to the program so it can retain at least one more WRAP worker; state budget cuts made it necessary for the Lawrence school district to significantly decrease its funding to the program.

By George Diepenbrock

July 25, 2007

Three questions with ... David Johnson, CEO of Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center

David Johnson, CEO of Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, talking about the funding concerns that face the WRAP program.

Future of WRAP program rests in hands of school board

The future of a program that puts mental health care workers into local schools now rests on the Lawrence school board. Enlarge video

The future of the WRAP program hinges mainly on the outcome of the school district's ongoing teacher-salary negotiations.

But it's not looking good for the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center program that places social workers in Lawrence schools to help troubled or at-risk students. WRAP - Working to Recognize Alternative Possibilities - serves about 3,000 Lawrence students.

"There's been no final decisions made, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that when you only have a couple million dollars, and you have $8 (million) to $10 million worth of requests, you're probably not going to fund a lot of things," Superintendent Randy Weseman said.

Administrators and board members say they have less than $2 million to finance teacher raises and $6.5 million in other requests. That includes a bid of more than $300,000 for WRAP.

Before other funding requests are decided, the district and teachers must reach a salary agreement.

Currently, negotiators are more than $1 million apart on how much to add to the teachers' salary schedule.

"My feeling is that it appears to me we're not going to have much money left after we finish trying to give our employees a raise," said Craig Grant, the school board's vice president.

'No reason to panic'

Since 1997, grants had been the predominant funding for WRAP, but that money has run out.

Last year, the school district, along with city and county commissioners, agreed to fund most of WRAP's $1.1 million annual costs.

This year, the county has committed $225,000 for next year's budget. But even that appears to be in peril.

City commissioners on Tuesday said they would only consider a new $250,000 commitment if the school district continued to fund it. And County Commissioners Charles Jones and Bob Johnson said they could see the county taking back its commitment for the 2008 budget if the school district and city weren't on board.

"It was built on that kind of three-legged stool principle, and if the other two legs are gone, I doubt we'd stay in," Jones said.

Bert Nash leaders on Wednesday said they would wait to see what happens with the school district's budget. They also indicated they expected to operate WRAP with its full 21 full- and part-time staff members in Lawrence, at least through the fall semester. That's largely because last year's county and city contributions run through December.

"We'll just wait until that time comes. There's no reason right now to panic. There's no reason to say, 'OK, we've got to institute any cuts to the program,'" said David Johnson, chief executive officer of Bert Nash.

Budget issues

WRAP supporters have touted its value and even said they believe it has deterred violence in schools.

"It's helpful to be able to go to someone in the school during the day when something happens that's upsetting to them," said Paula Kissinger, whose son will be a high school sophomore this year.

Kissinger credits a junior high WRAP worker with saving her son from suicide.

School and city leaders said the decisions were not an indictment on the quality of the program. Mayor Sue Hack called the decision "extremely difficult."

"It isn't that we're not sensitive to it," said Hack, also a former Lawrence teacher. "It's just that we've got a lot of things to balance right now. We've got to be judicious. That's where I think this decision is coming from."

Prevention efforts

School district leaders said their final decision is on hold until the negotiations process runs its course, but they have said it appears unlikely money will be available for WRAP or other requests.

Board member Rich Minder said the district invests in mental health in several ways with prevention workers, school social workers and psychologists. He also said he believed more mental health workers were needed in schools, but, with limited ways to raise revenue, schools have to concentrate on their education mission and defer public health services to cities and counties.

"We are not the public health entity in this community. We do what we can," he said.

Jones, a county commissioner, said it would be "a pity to see the WRAP partnership dissolve."

"I know what made it work, and what made it work was three entities coming together," he said.

David Johnson said the county contributes 15 percent to 20 percent of Bert Nash's annual revenue, the most of any local entity.

He also said he was counting on lobbying by WRAP supporters playing a role in the school district's and city's final decisions.

"I'm entering into that process with some confidence that this is a proven program, and they know it's going to make a difference for the kids," David Johnson said.

- 6News reporter Laura McHugh contributed to this report.

Discussion

LJWorld.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post.
Read our full policy. Also, read about banned accounts and harassing comments.

26 July 2007
at 1:11 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

WereAllMonkeys (Anonymous) says…

WRAP is (imho), the most under-funded, most important program in our school district.
If we lose this program we will see hostility rise in schools, it won't be for a couple of years, but it will rise(because many kids have been helped by the program.) This program really catches at risk children early and gives them tools to handle their own control problems.
26 July 2007
at 6:23 a.m.

Permalink

Pogo (Anonymous) says…

This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
26 July 2007
at 7:13 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (Anonymous) says…

Too bad we don't have an intervention problem for so-called adults like you, Pogo.
26 July 2007
at 7:29 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

PitBullGrandma (Anonymous) says…

Pogo would have benefited from participation in the WRAP program as a child. Pogo…You evidently have no idea of what the WRAP program does or how it functions in the schools. Instead of assuming that this is some program based on a liberal “tree-hugging” agenda you should do more research on this issue.

I am an intelligent individual who is appreciative for a program that helps my son deal with acts of harassment and violence perpetrated on him in the school by children who come from homes where “feminization” certainly does not exist. These are children that are acting out their frustrations and they need to be in the WRAP program so they can learn that the cycle of violence can be broken and they can lead productive lives without it.

If you want to do something constructive, support the WRAP program and question why the schools continue to allow criminal acts, not some horseplay, without adequate punishment. Our children are not being “feminized” at school by the WRAP workers…they are being physically and emotionally battered on a daily basis by other children and sometimes by the staff. Without the WRAP program who knows how many of these kids would resort to the violence we are seeing in so many other schools throughout the country.

The WRAP program is for everyone:no one is denied and everyone benefits. The only agenda it promotes is one of survival and learning to cope with life's problems. Isn't that what we as decent parents have always tried to teach our children ourselves? It is nothing more than a re-enforcement of values and an introduction of those values to children who come from homes deficit in morality. Show me what is wrong with that.
26 July 2007
at 7:57 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

sunflower97 (Anonymous) says…

I sure hope the school board votes to keep WRAP in the schools. Our child is only in elementary school and has benefitted since 1st grade by the kind counseling provided by the WRAP worker in her school. In addition to assistance with dealing with bullying and harassment, WRAP also helps kids deal with anxiety and depression.
26 July 2007
at 8:29 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

manyblessings (Anonymous) says…

Somehow people managed for hundreds of years without having a team of mental health workers in the school system. I think it is ridiculous and a lot of students get out of class by claiming they need to see a counselor. Kids should be going to school to learn reading, writing, mathematics, science and history, not to participate in psychological programs. If they need help in that area their parents should be finding those resources elsewhere and not at the taxpayers expense.
26 July 2007
at 8:34 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

BrianR (Anonymous) says…

“Somehow people managed for hundreds of years without having a team of mental health workers in the school system.”

Define “managed.”

Managed to drop out,
managed to fail,
managed to become a burden to someone or “The System” because their needs were unmet,
managed to go to prison?

26 July 2007
at 8:41 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

IllTeachYou (Anonymous) says…

I am a Lawrence teacher and I know that WRAP is a good program. They deal with kids who don't qualify for services from other agencies/programs/departments. If the superintendent thought it was valuable, he'd find the money to fund it.

The school district is receiving $8.2 million in new money this year. That's new money, over and above what they were given last year. If Supt. Weseman wanted to fund WRAP, he could find a way. My guess is that he's just using this article to put pressure on the teachers during negotiations.
26 July 2007
at 8:43 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

justthefacts (Anonymous) says…

I knew the announced budget cut was too good to be true.

This is how it goes; Governmental unit announces proposed budget with increase. Tax payers object. Governmental unit acts stunned but eventually agrees to hold the line or even decrease spending. People cheer. But then, governmental unit announces cut backs - almost always to something that a lot of people like, want or support. Like the WRAP program, or the hours of a city pool or bus service. People are sad and begin to re-think opposition to increase in budget. Governmental unit smugly says “we told you so” and spends more money each year.

What is needed, in my opinion, is a two-fold way of looking at all situations of this sort. First, do not assume that there are no other budget items that could not be cut instead. For instance, in this situation, maybe the top USD administrators' salaries need to be looked at, instead of the “in-the-trenches” teachers' salaries? Secondly, if there are no other more palatable places/programs to trim fat from, the tax payers and governmental units might want to remember and return to the traditional role of government .

For far too long we have gone down a path leading to an attitude that expects “big brother” to take care of all our needs, wants, and perceived societal ills. We want want want. And we demand that someone else do something about all our wants. Lots of good ideas are proposed and policies are tried. Some work, some fail. But the cost of government programs has continued to rise.

In my opinion, throwing tax dollars at good ideas has resulted, across the board, in a dependent society that can no longer do things privately or personally. We are losing (or have lost) our survival skills in favor of a weak-willed private sector and a population that is chock full of professional victims.

We cannot continue to keep robbing Peter (the future) to pay Paul (today's wants). Government was intended to protect and collectively provide minimum services. The societies where the government plays the best and largest role of “big brother” (providing the people with all their needs and wants) is called communism. Maybe that's what a majority of people want now; and end to capitalism and a society where all work for the common good - without any paycheck directly given to anyone. However, before we move too much further down that path (to where our government - funded by all workers - pays for all our needs) may I suggest that those favoring this move live in China (or somewhere like it) for about a year, just to see if they really like how that type of thing works in actuality?
26 July 2007
at 8:43 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

guesswho (Anonymous) says…

and don't forget….managed to buy guns and ammo and show schools and our nation how frustrated they are that no one has taken the time to listen to them
26 July 2007
at 8:46 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

Fairness952 (Anonymous) says…

WRAP is a successful program. Funding to continue it shouldn't be an issue tied to teacher salary negotiations. I'm not a teacher, but I appreciate what they do and how difficult (and financially unrewarding) teaching has become. If education is truly a priority for Lawrence, we should provide equitable salary increases for teachers while also supporting a program — WRAP — that contributes to the success of our schools and our students.
26 July 2007
at 8:58 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

mom_of_three (Anonymous) says…

WRAP is a program for all the students of Lawrence. They work along with the school psychologists, in teaching kids about how to handle bullies, violence, etc. They also help out when the psychologists are overbooked. WRAP also used to do a short summer program, to bring different kids together to talk about issues that affect them or could affect them. The WRAP worker was very much a part of the elementary school where my kids went.
I really hate to see this program go away. It helps so many kids.
26 July 2007
at 9:05 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (Anonymous) says…

The reason government is now taking care of things that it didn't used to in the “good old days” is because there never were any good old days. Sure, there are things that government has attempted to address, and not done so very successfully, but that doesn't mean that these problems don't need to be addressed.

WRAP can be defunded and scrapped, but that will create a void in needed services which will not all of a sudden be magically filled by the private sector, churches, or whoever. They will not magically pick up the ball and fix problems which, historically, they never did before— which is why government was given the task in the first place.

The ounce of prevention we get from WRAP is much preferable to the pound of cure we'll need because of its demise.
26 July 2007
at 9:15 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

perkins (Anonymous) says…

Rich Minder's comment was sensible, as the school already does employ counselors, psychologists, and social workers for the students. Of course each of us has a pet program we would hate to be cut, but it is refreshing to hear some signs of fiscal sanity from the school district. And It was thoughtful of Craig Grant to signal to the teachers to keep fighting at the negotiating table; this is where I would place the priority.
26 July 2007
at 9:21 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

Lorrah (Anonymous) says…

What I find interesting is that no one has asked the buildings or the directors of the program in the schools to see if we would like to have the programs continued. While there is a need in our community to provide extra mental health services, there is no need for this to be in our schools. Many of the WRAP workers do not make an effort to get along with the building staff in terms of student needs, and the district has mental health people which they are paying already. While WRAP serves 30% of our students, their funding means that we are taking away from other necessary services such as Prevention that the schools try to provide.

Also, if the school district provides funding to Bert Nash for WRAP, what is going to stop other outside community organizations for asking for funds as well? If the district provides funding to Bert Nash, then why shouldn't they give money to the Boys and Girls Club as well, who also partners with the district to provide services for students after school? They are in the buildings and running out of money as well, and serve roughly 50% of students in the district, so why shouldn't the school district provide funding for them as well?

26 July 2007
at 9:56 a.m.

Permalink

Pogo (Anonymous) says…

This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
26 July 2007
at 10:10 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

PitBullGrandma (Anonymous) says…

“Rich Minder's comment was sensible, as the school already does employ counselors, psychologists, and social workers for the students.”

If Rich Minder did say this then he is in error as the social workers in the school are the wrap workers. The school counselors and psychologists are not trained to deal with the situations the kids utilizing the WRAP program experience. The counselors and the psychologists are the ones that failed my child for the past 10 years…the WRAP workers have helped him make terrific progress in the past 6 years.

Again, to all of you who are reading and posting here…if you want to make a difference and see the funding that is available go to the appropriate destinations, please review the school district's propsed budget. It is online at the USD497 website. It is an eye opener. There is a proposal for over a million dollar increase in the food service budget alone. That is luicrous ! There seems to be plenty of money available for programs and teacher salaries. Forget Randy Weseman…he is not budging. Start E-Mailing the school board members and implore them to utilize their common sense to see that everyone gets a fair share of this money.
26 July 2007
at 10:11 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

person184 (Anonymous) says…

To those of you who have seen the benefit of the WRAP program, let the school board and superintendent know ASAP.

And pray for Pogo; he's really really angry and damaged.
26 July 2007
at 10:22 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

PitBullGrandma (Anonymous) says…

“While WRAP serves 30% of our students, their funding means that we are taking away from other necessary services such as Prevention that the schools try to provide.”

What “Prevention” ? There is nothing like this in the schools.

“If the district provides funding to Bert Nash, then why shouldn't they give money to the Boys and Girls Club as well, who also partners with the district to provide services for students after school? They are in the buildings and running out of money as well, and serve roughly 50% of students in the district, so why shouldn't the school district provide funding for them as well?”

Because the city of Lawrence is funding that organization with almost $300,000 and they too (the B&G Club) receive other outside funding.
26 July 2007
at 10:30 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

PitBullGrandma (Anonymous) says…

“Kids should be going to school to learn reading, writing, mathematics, science and history, not to participate in psychological programs. If they need help in that area their parents should be finding those resources elsewhere and not at the taxpayers expense.”

Except that many children in the public schools have dysfunctional families, no structure at home, addict parents, lack of discipline, and lack of care in general and take those emotional issues with them to school where they act out with physical violence or verbal abuse against other children because they do not know how to cope or function. They have no decent example set for them and without guidance will become juvenile and adult offenders. I'd rather pay a bit more on my school tuition and fees for the chance of turning a child around towards a promising future than continuing to pay increasing property taxes to house the offenders at the JDC and county jail which is where a good majority of these misguided youth end up.
26 July 2007
at 10:42 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (Anonymous) says…

If you want to see what the “good ole days” produced, just read Pogo's post. Too bad his/her first was removed— it provided a very good cautionary tale.
26 July 2007
at 11:03 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

littlelawrencian (Anonymous) says…

Pogo, I guess you have never dealt with depression, bullying, any other mental health issues or you would surely realize the worth of the WRAP program. I know my daughter is alive today because she had help at school. This help came just in time too, I shudder to think what stories we will be reading in the next year or so if they do indeed cancel the program. It is a shame that the children are truly the ones that suffer the affects of not having any programs such as WRAP that can help them realize their own self worth, learn to deal with their problemsconquer their depression and thoughts of suicide. I sure could have benefitted from something like that when, at 7 years of age, I lost my father, and the depression that set in for years after that, school was just a place I had to force myself to go to every day. Surviving outside school became my priority which is why it was so hard to concentrate on the school studies. It is a miracle I have any education at all! But indeed I do, and I intend to contact the school board members and the superintendant(when is his contract up?)
26 July 2007
at 11:17 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

PitBullGrandma (Anonymous) says…

For those of you expressing an interest in contacting the school board, here is the contact information for the board members :

USD497 Board of Education

Craig Grant
2505 Stowe Drive
Lawrence, KS 66049
(785) 842-8298
cgrant@usd497.org

Mary Loveland
747 N 1500 Road
Lawrence, KS 66049
(785) 842-9333
mlovelan@usd497.org

Marlene Merrill
2917 Westdale Road
Lawrence, KS 66049
(785) 832-2203
mmerrill@usd497.org

Rich Minder
1218 Delaware #3
Lawrence, KS 66044
(785) 760-3791
rminder@usd497.org

John Mitchell
1012 Wagon Wheel Road
Lawrence, KS 66049
(785) 843-2954
jmitchel@usd497.org

Scott Morgan
1618 Inverness Drive
Lawrence, KS 66047
(785) 842-6268
morgans@usd497.org

Linda Robinson
1317 Pinehurst Circle
Lawrence, KS 66049
(785) 865-3738
lrobinso@usd497.org

26 July 2007
at 11:24 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

pelliott (Anonymous) says…

good gosh, it isn't a choice between teachers and wrap, it is a choice between adminitstrative cuts and wrap, between landscaping and building new schools and wrap, what a crock headline.
26 July 2007
at 11:30 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

littlelawrencian (Anonymous) says…

OKAY, I just got my letters sent out to the school board members as well as the school superintendant, now hopefully, they will get deluged with other letters voicing the same support!
26 July 2007
at 11:42 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

PitBullGrandma (Anonymous) says…

“it is a choice between adminitstrative cuts and wrap, between landscaping and building new schools and wrap, what a crock headline”

Seems to me that it is more like failing to deliver on promises…that is the crock ! That sends a definite loud message to everyone in Douglas County about how the city and county governments are operated. Be wary now of anything that any of the commissioners promise to you. What kind of business is taking place with the city and county commissioners where if the school district doesn't come through with their portion of the funding that they are withdrawing their promised contributions to WRAP ? How about the next time a tax increase is proported and it turns out to be a larger amount than originally quoted. Can we, the taxpayers, get away with paying the original smaller amount ? How about if we review the city and county budget proposals and discover some funding going to agencies that we feel are unworthy. Can we withhold part of our taxes due to that ? Let's get real commissioners. You promised to fund a more than worthy program. Do not lower yourselves to the school district's standards and fail the children and the community. Fulfill your original promises and fund the WRAP program at the rate that you promised. Allow the community to continue to have faith in you. If you do not your word is now worthless.
26 July 2007
at 11:43 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

mom_of_three (Anonymous) says…

I know when the school was testing my daughter for learning disabilities, she spoke to a number of people, including the school psychologist. But she was also referred to the WRAP worker, by the school psychologist because having another person's evaluation doesn't hurt. The school's have one psychologist for each school. (The high schools may have more). Do you think that is enough to help kids deal with their problems.
And for the record, I am married and a home owner. My kids didn't come from a broken home or a tough background. And they still received benefits from this service. It can help all kids, not just from specific backgrounds…..
26 July 2007
at 11:47 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

person184 (Anonymous) says…

Just an fyi, the school psychologists are typically assigned 3-4 schools unless they are assigned to a high school. They are really not hired to deal with mental health as much as educational testing. Also, the counselors and social workers also have multiple schools. WRAP fills in the (gaping sometimes) holes for mental health.
26 July 2007
at 11:51 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

mom_of_three (Anonymous) says…

thank you person184 for the information. very, very enlightening…
26 July 2007
at 12:12 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

PitBullGrandma (Anonymous) says…

“It is a disgrace that a community would even make public that they have 3,000 students in WRAP.”

It is a disgrace that the school district allows bullying in schools and sexual deviants as teachers and refuses to clean their own house occasionally. It is a disgrace that our society has evolved to a point where children are not a priority. It is a disgrace that people continue to procreate when they are not fit emotionally or financially to do so and those offspring are ill-equipped to function at any age. The WRAP program has saved the school district thousands of times over from potential incidents with disastrous outcomes. How any of the involved parties could follow through with the withholding of WRAP funds knowing the facts is beyond my comprehension.
26 July 2007
at 12:17 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

mom_of_three (Anonymous) says…

Look, hawkperch…..my kids have used the WRAP workers at school, and were referred there, BY school workers. School workers who are often overbooked and over worked.
I can talk to my kids about their issues all I want, but the fact is, I am not at school to see what goes on. The WRAP worker and the school personnel are. So if something happens during the school day, it's possible for kids to have someone to talk to immediately, as so many of them want to talk about it immediately.
WRAP workers deal with many issues…..more than you know, and are there for EVERY kid.
EVERY kid….

26 July 2007
at 12:21 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

mom_of_three (Anonymous) says…

One summer, the WRAP worker at my kids' elementary school had a week long summer session for a variety of kids, to discuss common issues. All kinds of kids were invited, including mine. It was about getting a diversity together in order to understand each other, and perhaps, keep the problems from happening. Not all of them had been in trouble or had issues, but could provide an alternate point of view, and perhaps a friend to someone in the future. They played games, did art, and talked a lot. It was a good experience for all. It was a proactive approach which can go a long way.
I hope the school district and the administration come to their senses.
26 July 2007
at 12:23 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

mom_of_three (Anonymous) says…

The WRAP program is for all kids in our school district, but yes, it usually catches many of those who have no other options when it comes to mental health care.
26 July 2007
at 12:24 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

mom_of_three (Anonymous) says…

When my kids were in grade school, I remember them telling me about the WRAP workers speaking to classrooms. So there are probably very few kids who hasn't been affected by a WRAP worker. There should not be a stigma about being helped by WRAP.
26 July 2007
at 12:45 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

Azure_Attitude (Anonymous) says…

Pogo, you ae nothing but a Limbaugh wanna be and just as ill informed. Why don't you go take some Oxycontin … a whole script.
26 July 2007
at 12:49 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

manyblessings (Anonymous) says…

I think it is creepy to have “mental health” workers for ALL children. The job of the government schools isn't (or shouldn't) be to cure all social ills. They are there to educate children. Let the social workers do their job outside of the school system. If there are cases of abuse they can be reported, but most families don't need this type of interference. The idea that everyone needs help raising their kids is preposterous. Some of us do it quite well without the service of a bunch of social programmers.
26 July 2007
at 1:02 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (Anonymous) says…

Kids spend half their waking hours in school, manyblessings. Making mental health counselors available to them is just as appropriate as having a school nurse available, especially considering that a huge percentage of the students who need either likely would get neither at home.
26 July 2007
at 1:09 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

kugrad (Anonymous) says…

Actually, School Social Workers ARE trained to deal with the situations that WRAP workers deal with. In many states, they do perform a similar role. Unfortunately, when people say that “schools already have social workers,” they are forgetting that one social worker may be serving 3 schools at a time, unable to deal with the crises that WRAP workers have the scheduling flexibility to address.

Just ignore Pogo. Ignoring the villiage idiot is not only an old KS tradition, but appropriate when dealing with someone who has zero knowledge about the topic at hand but insists on spurting out anyway.

I understand that it sounds weird to have a mental health team at an elementary school. Think about it this way. You can put a child into a math or reading class, but if that child is scared of what is going on at home, victimized by abuse, being bullied outside of school where no adult knows about it, or has one of a thousand other problems that can completely occupy a young child's mind, then that child is not going to learn very much until the basic need for security is filled.

You can argue that it is not the role of the schools, but who else deals with virtually all of our children? The grocery store? Their parents may be unaware of the problem, may be unable to deal with the problem, may lack the resources to address the problem, or may BE the problem. A society should not allow children to be victimized while making the excuse that we COULD help them, but really their parents should.
26 July 2007
at 1:19 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

PitBullGrandma (Anonymous) says…

“If there are cases of abuse they can be reported, but most families don't need this type of interference.”

Try telling that to my son who was bullied every day at school for 3 years. The school resource officer failed to file reports about this because the perpetrators lied about their involvement and their word was taken over my son's who doesn't express himself well due to his poor social skills. Thanks to consistent WRAP involvement he is now better able to express himself and is no longer bullied, again, no thanks to the school district's employees, rather, thanks to the WRAP worker.

26 July 2007
at 2:13 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

KsTwister (Anonymous) says…

“no thanks to the school district's employees, rather, thanks to the WRAP worker.”
Then perhaps school councilors should be replaced with WRAP workers and given their salaries??? I smell a rat and for the amount of money its not little. So without funding WRAP is already in place? Where did that funding come from? And if children need intervention then many families have health care that provide for it? I know all children can get health care needs met provided by the State and Bert Nash receives tax money for their programs. If they are doing it from their budget then who oversees where they spend it? Taxpayers are paying dearly for education already where do you draw the line? LJW would do well to comparisons with other school districts who don't have these programs but school counseling programs that work. Lawrence schools has a bigger budget than most and they already have the funding with the 60mills they receive.If they want the program then fine spend it where it will do the most good. If that many kids are distressed it may be families struggling with taxes and costs to live here. A school system that is a failure cannot blame the taxpayers in Lawrence who have given their all.
26 July 2007
at 3:13 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

mom_of_three (Anonymous) says…

no one has said we need help raising our kids. But the schools need help to deal with all of those kids who may have different issues. Bullies, change in the home environment, death, etc. And you think the school counselor or psychologist can help all those kids in each school. No.

I don't think you understand what a WRAP worker does. and i am not sure some of you want to.
26 July 2007
at 4:01 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

PitBullGrandma (Anonymous) says…

“A school system that is a failure cannot blame the taxpayers in Lawrence who have given their all.”

Which is why so many parents are outraged at the poor decisions made by the school district and approved by the school board. It certainly is not because the parents have lacked in voicing their concerns.

“So without funding WRAP is already in place? Where did that funding come from?”

No…WRAP was funded from a federal grant that ran it's course. It is now up to the school district, the city and the county to fund the program for it to be sustained.

“And if children need intervention then many families have health care that provide for it? I know all children can get health care needs met provided by the State”

My child regularly sees a psychiatrist for medication evaluation, our family doctor and a psychologist for therapy sessions that I pay for along with my private health insurance. He also sees the WRAP worker at school, notably for problems he encounters at school. The school counselors have never been of any assistance to him…they are not trained social workers. The school psychologists have never been of any assistance to him…he was denied an IEP for over 4 years because they “just didn't see” his difficulties. For the most part, sad to say, the counselors and psychologists of this school district that I have had personal dealings with are unqualified to do what the WRAP workers do…perhaps this is not the case in other school districts.
26 July 2007
at 4:13 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

emilyhadley (Emily Hadley) says…

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/1999/mar…

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2001/aug…

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2002/jun…

These are past LJW articles about WRAP. The last discusses the direct effect that losing WRAP would have on the Boys and Girls Club, as well as the kids and the schools.

I think this is so sad; I hope we can save WRAP before the cuts can sink in. These folks give everything they have to these kids, making themselves available to so many children to listen and provide help and wisdom. We literally can't afford to lose this program. Prevention and education will do more to build wealth and security in our community than any industrial business park and any number of additional police officers.

From the first article:

Consider this:

* Youth who quit school experience more unemployment, have lower earnings and are more likely to become young parents.
* Juvenile violence an crime are more likely to occur during times when youth are unsupervised.
* Early onset of delinquency and violence is predictive of more serious later violence.
—

When our city is in a budget crisis, it is a shame that our officials do not see beyond the papers on their desks, much less do they see Lawrence ten years into the future and work to make it a better one.
26 July 2007
at 4:40 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

merrill (Anonymous) says…

I would much rather the city restore the 2005 mil levy reduction of 1.5 mills and pick up the cost of WRAP,fund the T at its' current level, provide increase in pay to city workers with lowest paid receiving the largest increases and fix some sidewalks.

Notice USD cut its' mill levy by .25 while at the same time dropping wrap??? yet blaming it on the teachers who also deserve a pay increase.
26 July 2007
at 5:01 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

PitBullGrandma (Anonymous) says…

“I would much rather the city restore the 2005 mil levy reduction of 1.5 mills and pick up the cost of WRAP,fund the T at its' current level, provide increase in pay to city workers with lowest paid receiving the largest increases and fix some sidewalks.

Notice USD cut its' mill levy by .25 while at the same time dropping wrap??? yet blaming it on the teachers who also deserve a pay increase.”

Merrill….please write or E-Mail the school board and the city commissioners with your recommendations…they are great !
26 July 2007
at 5:09 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

Pogo (Anonymous) says…

We have no clue why the LJWorld is deleting our stuff. We've asked for clarification and have thus far received none. Anyway…..

school: In public school classrooms across America, in every category and every demographic group, boys are falling behind. Girls excel and move on to college, where three out of five students are female, while young boys who don't naturally thrive when forced to sit still at a desk for six hours a day are diagnosed by the millions with new diseases that didn't exist a generation ago. To make their behavior more acceptable, they are compelled to take hazardous psycho-stimulant drugs like Ritalin.

Boys are more than 50 percent more likely to repeat elementary school grades than girls, a third more likely to drop out of high school and twice as likely to have a “learning disability.” And the suicide rate among teen boys is far higher than that of girls.

“What we have done,” explains Thomas Mortenson, senior scholar at the Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education, “is we have a K-12 school system that seems to work relatively well for girls and does not work for a very large share of boys.”

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/art…

WRAP your mind around that stuff…..
26 July 2007
at 5:11 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

Pogo (Anonymous) says…

A female teacher, especially if she has no male children of her own, I've noticed, will tend to view boys' penchant for challenging classroom assignments as disruptive, disrespectful-rude. In my experience, notes home and parent-teacher conferences almost always concern a boy's behavior in class, usually centering on this kind of conflict. In today's feminized classroom, with its “cooperative learning” and “inclusiveness,” a student's demand for assurance of a worthwhile outcome for his effort isn't met with a reasonable explanation but is considered inimical to the educational process. Yet it's this very trait, innate to boys and men, that helps explain male success in the hard sciences, math, and business.

WRAP is not responsible for addressing bully behavior in the school system. Our community pays good wages to people assigned to deal with bullying. We don't need fluff to find bullies.

26 July 2007
at 5:16 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

PitBullGrandma (Anonymous) says…

“We have no clue why the LJWorld is deleting our stuff. We've asked for clarification and have thus far received none.”

Most likely because you have made comments that are unsubstantiated and ridiculous.

“while young boys who don't naturally thrive when forced to sit still at a desk for six hours a day are diagnosed by the millions with new diseases that didn't exist a generation ago. To make their behavior more acceptable, they are compelled to take hazardous psycho-stimulant drugs like Ritalin.”

Case in point. Try explaining these statements. There are, granted, many misdiagnoses…my son was repeatedly misdiagnosed for over 10 years, but, knowing my own child, I refused to accept the “guesses” of the so-called experts and kept looking for someone who actually knew what they were doing. I finally found someone who is qualified to render anaccurate diagnosis and was not consumed with using my son as a pharmaceutical guinea pig. It is working out nicely that you. He does not have a gender questioning issue and is not wrongly medicated.
26 July 2007
at 5:34 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

merrill (Anonymous) says…

“PitBullGrandma (Anonymous) says:
“I would much rather the city restore the 2005 mil levy reduction of 1.5 mills and pick up the cost of WRAP,fund the T at its' current level, provide increase in pay to city workers with lowest paid receiving the largest increases and fix some sidewalks.

Notice USD cut its' mill levy by .25 while at the same time dropping wrap??? yet blaming it on the teachers who also deserve a pay increase.”

Merrill:.please write or E-Mail the school board and the city commissioners with your recommendations:they are great !

I did. It will take a whole bunch of emails with Commissioner Rob Chestnut leading the charge.
However it only takes 3 votes.
26 July 2007
at 5:39 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

manyblessings (Anonymous) says…

Wow, so the mental health programs in the schools are there to address bullying that is actually being allowed to happen in the school in the first place? How ironic. How about instituting more strict disciplinary measures for bullies or having them write long essays on why they were wrong and why they are sorry, presented to the victim? Hey, and it wouldn't cost any tax dollars. The victim would even have a sense of justice being served. But no, let's just keep throwing money at the government so they can “fix” the problems they are causing. Competent teachers don't allow bullying in the classroom and competent lunchroom aides and security guards that are roaming the hallways anyway aren't going to allow it either.
26 July 2007
at 6:30 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

PitBullGrandma (Anonymous) says…

“bullying that is actually being allowed to happen in the school in the first place? How ironic. How about instituting more strict disciplinary measures for bullies or having them write long essays on why they were wrong and why they are sorry, presented to the victim? Hey, and it wouldn't cost any tax dollars. The victim would even have a sense of justice being served. But no, let's just keep throwing money at the government so they can “fix” the problems they are causing. Competent teachers don't allow bullying in the classroom and competent lunchroom aides and security guards that are roaming the hallways anyway aren't going to allow it either.”

Exactly…but the problem is that there seem to be NO competent individuals to resolve these issues and the courts have initiated “rights” for these juvenile delinquents so that you cannot touch them, physically or disciplinarily. The school district and the school board supports those delinquents by treating both victims and perpetrators as equals. If a student attacks another student and the student being attacked tries to physically defend himself or retaliates then both students are punished equally. There is no vindication for students that are the victims of bullying in this school district. This is not the same school system we attended as children.
26 July 2007
at 7:06 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

KsTwister (Anonymous) says…

I'm beginning to understand why more parents have changed to home schooling their children.
26 July 2007
at 7:08 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

PitBullGrandma (Anonymous) says…

“These are past LJW articles about WRAP.”

I found another one, Emily.

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2005/jul…

everyone who is interested in saving the WRAP program and who will be writing or E-Mailing the city commission please take note of this article. In this article Sue Hack is talking about the WRAP program and is quoted as saying : “Wouldn't we as a community rather produce tax-paying adults than tax-absorbing adults?” City Commissioner Sue Hack said. “It's critical to continue the support.”

Ms. Hack needs to be reminded of her words and held to them.
26 July 2007
at 7:12 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

PitBullGrandma (Anonymous) says…

“Merrill:.please write or E-Mail the school board and the city commissioners with your recommendations:they are great !”

I did. It will take a whole bunch of emails with Commissioner Rob Chestnut leading the charge.
However it only takes 3 votes.

Mr. Chestnut is voting to retain the WRAP funding ? I did not know this. Who else was brave enough to do so on the commission, if you know.
26 July 2007
at 10:42 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

mom_of_three (Anonymous) says…

pogo - get a clue and maybe you can figure out why your posts were deleted. evidently, someone found them offensive, and the LJW agreed.

27 July 2007
at 11:32 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

emilyhadley (Emily Hadley) says…

I guess Sue has become already become detached from the… hundreds? thousands? of children she taught and hopefully mentored in her career. I would think having a K-12 school teacher on our commission would provide a good voice for our children's needs. I bet a lot of voters thought the same thing.