HOPEWELL JUNCTION – Wappingers Central School District (WCSD) has received $2.5 million in state funding to expand and support practices that promote mental health and wellness. The program intends to improve the ability of staff and students to identify mental health concerns and increase help-seeking behaviors.
The funding for the district is part of Governor Hochul’s $100 million New York State Recover from COVID School Programs (RECOVS) grant program to address pandemic learning loss and provide students with mental health support.
“New York is making historic investments to ensure all of our students are on the path towards success,” Governor Hochul said. “This funding will help our teachers and school staff pinpoint where students have fallen behind and provide students with the crucial resources needed to support their mental health, especially after the pandemic.”
Wappingers School Superintendent Dr. Dwight Bonk welcomed the funding. “The health, welfare, and safety of our students and staff remains our top priority. In recent years, we have added staff and services to address mental health and foster a safe school environment: this includes additional social workers, psychologists, nurses, and local law enforcement.” He credited Hochul and state lawmakers who supported the program and said the district “will continue to seek competitive grants to secure more funding outside of the regular annual budget process. Clearly, all students deserve a safe and supportive environment where they can reach their highest academic, social, and emotional potential.”
