Politics & Government
Orangetown Board Passes Teen Screen, Project Graduation Funding
Program designed to identify teens with potential substance abuse, mental health issues passes, 3-2, after questions are raised about how it works.
The Orangetown Town Board approved funding for the Teen Screen program at Pearl River and Tappan Zee high schools, but it did not pass easily.
Councilwoman Nancy Low-Hogan and Councilman Michael Maturo both questioned the program and they cast the two no votes. Councilmen Denis Troy and Tom Diviny both strongly supported Teen Screen and voted for it along with Supervisor Paul Whalen.
Low-Hogan argued that the board did not have enough information about the program and had previously raised the concern that Nyack High School was being left out. The board approved $1,000 to fund the program at Pearl River and Tappan Zee high schools, a number that SOCASA will match. Earlier in the day, she had expressed concerns that the Teen Screen program had met with mixed reviews when used elsewhere.
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"This is a controversial program," Low-Hogan said. "This program has some questions associated with it."
Susan Maher of the South Orangetown Community Awareness of Substance Abuse (SOCASA) said that the program would help student assistance counselors at Pearl River High School and Tappan Zee High School identify students who may need more counseling to deal with mental health issues and substance abuse issues. The Orangetown Substance Abuse Committee approved the program before it went to the town board.
Find out what's happening in Pearl Riverwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"So many students go unidentified," Maher said. "It is the largest cause of academic problems."
Maturo argued that the town board should not be stepping into school business.
"As a father, anything that can help these kids now or later in life, we should be involved in that," Diviny said.
As expected, the town board approved a The $68,000 contract with Saccardi and Schiff to update Orangetown's comprehensive plan and a performance bond that is part of the construction of a FedEx office building on Route 303.
Funding for Project Graduation, all-night graduation celebrations that are alcohol free passed in the following amounts:
- Tappan Zee High School: $1,500
- Pearl River HIgh School: $1,500
- Nanuet High School: $750
- Nyack High School: $750
- Albertus Magnus High School: $200
"We need to send a letter to the schools to let them know these funds may not be there," Diviny said. "We just don’t have the funds."
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