Editor’s Note: Dr. Cathy Taschner, Superintendent of the Coatesville Area School District, agreed to a lengthy, sit down question and answer session last week. We present both the questions and answers as transcribed from a recording. We did not clean up language, pauses or grammar, to better reflect the exact words — and tone — of the conversation and provide Dr. Taschner with an unfiltered, unedited avenue to answer questions. While the entire interview is lengthy and wide-ranging, we think it is worth the investment in time to read for the entire community. We thank Dr. Taschner for her cooperation and willingness to participate.
By Lauren Parker- Gill, Staff Writer, The Times
Dr. Cathy Taschner
The Times: Thank you for taking the time to meet with me. I do have some general questions regarding the future of this district but I’d like to jump right in with some bigger topics. I realize that because the names of the mental health specialists were released, you are limited in what you can say, however, can you give me a general idea of what certifications they were missing?
Taschner: Well unfortunately, you know, when it comes to personnel, I’ve always made it a practice not to talk about people in personnel. But here is what I can talk to you about and this is what I think this is so important. Mental Health Specialists provide a very important service for children. It’s…we are involved in a huge youth mental health, first-aid awareness and training grant that is in conjunction with the county. The Brandywine Health Foundation is also involved. And we have spent much time providing some entry-level awareness of what the state of mental health is for people and what we can be aware of and how we can see the warning signs.
In schools, typically when people are providing mental health specialist services, they are a licensed school counselor, they are a licensed social worker or they are a school psychologist. And so there’s sometimes confusion about what they are. But that licensure and the training that goes into that is really important because…children and adults who are experiencing mental health needs…with early recognition awareness and with early assistance, can make great strides and that can be something that changes, in a positive way, the outcome of their future forever. So it’s important that we provide for students all the time a level of increased service where we can; always increasing the level of service, always making sure that people have training and licensure to provide that. I have said this before, this is in no way devaluing anyone’s commitment to the district and what people did to give their very best for the training experiences they had. We are always grateful for people who are committed to the district.
The Times: Did you ever consider changing the titles of the effected employees to accommodate the certifications they had and offer them an opportunity to achieve the certifications they need?
Taschner: And again, I’m not…I’m not going to talk about personnel. It’s just…I’m just not going to do that. But what I am going to tell you is I think students with disabilities and students with mental health needs, we have a responsibility to provide them with the highest level of service that we can. That the district is able to do. And that our goal should always be, and we said this, students first; doing the best thing for students all of the time. And increasing the level of service, making sure that we are…that the students are being seen by people who are able to provide the highest level of service possible, is what we are going to continue to do. We owe that to our students and I think every parent wants that for their students and expects the district will do that for their students.
The Times: Honestly, I think the public is wondering if these specialists were given the opportunity to achieve the certifications to keep their jobs.
Taschner: I can’t…you know again…it’s very difficult because…the discussion of personnel…they’re you know…while everyone wants to talk about personnel, it wouldn’t be in the best interest of children, right? And the hardest part about the many decisions that we’re having to make as a district, our decisions that we have made…it’s saying we are now aware of decisions that were made. We know about them. And are we going to do what we need to do to make sure that we are providing the best for students. And that is really hard…and that has been hard for the last year. This board has made really hard decisions that sometimes people don’t understand because they won’t have all of the information that a board has because it’s protected information. But in each instance, those decisions always point back to children. Whether it’s addressing the financial issues of the district so that there can be lower class size, brand new text books, brand new computers, a brand new website, everything they’ve done has pointed back to improving outcomes for students. And that is…that has been our first goal, it has to remain our true north and because it is, it’s going to be really difficult. We’re trying to…change course and that is again not pointed at any people that are here. It’s not pointed at the adults. It’s about doing this for children. And that’s not to say that there aren’t children that don’t benefit from having adults in their lives. Because I believe every child benefits from having a great role model and a mentor and someone to talk to. Every child would be better for that. And I think that our community has risen up to provide mentors and programs that mentor children…and you know, I watch teachers everyday who take on a second role you know outside of school, in terms of after school activities. So I’m not minimizing the importance of the role of a mentor and a strong adult in a child’s life either. But I’m…I’m…I will continue to say that the decisions that are being made are done in the best interest of children and trying to serve them well. And it doesn’t make them any easier but it makes them the right…right decisions.
The Times: Since the mental health specialists were also furloughed for economic reasons and services will now be outsourced to the CCIU, are you able to share approximately how much money will be saved annually?
Continued on next page, click to continue
