Madison County board approves 15 student support services worker positions

The Madison County Board of Education approved a new job description for a student support services worker and ratified 15 full-time positions intended to provide front-line behavioral and social-emotional support in district schools.

Superintendent David Gillum and staff explained the position's primary duties: triage student behavioral needs during the school day, refer students to appropriate school personnel, and link families to community resources. The role was described as a "social worker type" position that may not require a social worker certification but is designed to support guidance counselors and principals in meeting high student needs.

Board members discussed the COVID-era increase in student mental-health concerns and expressed support for early intervention. The approved positions will be allocated across all five middle schools and 10 elementary schools with K-5 or K-1 configurations. The board approved the job description by motion and subsequently created and ratified the 15 positions by voice vote.

Superintendent staff said high schools already have social workers and that kindergarten academy allocations were adjusted previously; funding sources for the new positions were not detailed in the discussion. The board encouraged tracking outcomes and feedback from counselors and principals to measure the positions' impact over the coming year.