The meeting’s primary focus was the presentation by Billy Beers, founder and CEO of the Choices program. He detailed the program’s origins as the Positive Alternative to Student Suspension (PASS) initiative, emphasizing its goal of keeping students engaged in their education while addressing underlying issues through clinical and social-emotional support. His narrative underscored the program’s mission to provide a comprehensive safety plan for students to prevent further suspensions.

The Choices program operates daily, offering assessments and academic tutoring to students from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It targets students suspended for non-violent reasons, including tardiness and substance-related issues. Students undergo five assessments on their first day, which helps tailor a specific plan to address their needs. Beers also highlighted the program’s success in identifying and supporting 76 students under 15 who lacked prior clinical assistance.

Complementing the PASS initiative is the Alternative Peer Group (APG), which fosters a supportive environment for adolescents facing addiction and other challenges. Engaging activities such as hikes and beach trips provide stability and companionship, offering an alternative to potentially unsafe home environments.

The committee’s discussion extended to the broader community impact of the Choices initiative, which operates in 22 districts within Worcester County. It aims to mitigate issues related to the opioid crisis through collaboration with local school districts. This collaboration includes the Oxbridge opioid crisis team, which works with stakeholders to create an abatement process for opioid-related issues and manage funds without affecting local taxpayers. A grant application to double the opioid funds to $300,000 has been submitted, potentially strengthening community resources.

Key to the program’s strategy is its collaboration with parents. This partnership includes facility tours and staff introductions, fostering open communication from the outset. The program also includes a transfer program with Lake Recovery, extending support into adulthood and maintaining distinct cohorts for different age groups to provide tailored services.

Financially, the program’s cost is approximately $90 per day per student, with the district seeking to use a healthcare grant to cover expenses, pending committee approval. This includes structured interventions for suspensions related to substance use, like THC, with transport services provided for the three-day intervention.

Assessment timelines were discussed, with a 45-day evaluation period deemed essential for effective follow-up. The committee acknowledged the existing system’s inadequacies, which often leave students without proper support. Approximately 10 to 12 students with repeated vaping and THC infractions were identified as immediate beneficiaries of Choices.

The meeting also addressed the need for increased education on substance use, particularly concerning counterfeit THC products containing harmful substances like fentanyl. Collaboration with UMass Chan Medical School aims to deepen understanding of these medical implications for adolescents.