Youth Services Advisory Board Minutes
SIMSBURY YOUTH SERVICE ADVISORY BOARD
MINUTES
February 14, 2022
On February 14 2022, the Simsbury Youth Services Advisory Board met via Zoom and livestreamed on Facebook.
Present: Rachael Loveland, Jovin Girard (SPS), Tom Tyburski (SCP&R), Mary Richardson (SPL), Trevor Brittell (SPD), Todd Kushman (SPD), Kyla Lorden (student), Jack Williams (student)
Roll call was held. Pledge of Allegiance was completed & meeting was called to order at 2:17 PM.
No public comments were submitted for the meeting.
R. Loveland discussed Simsbury High School’s upcoming Equity Week, scheduled for March 2022. Student J. Williams offered some context to Equity Week. R. Loveland spoke about Simsbury’s YSB looking to coordinate with the school to provide additional programming, support a guest speaker, etc. indicating that conversation had just begun.
Student J. Williams spoke about some students struggling with mask mandates. School Social Worker J. Girard spoke about ongoing mental health concerns of students; increased anxiety, difficulty going to school, students are faced with exam anxiety and increase in academic pressures. Student K. Lorden spoke about lack of a community element in the school. Office Todd Kushman agreed with the lack of community and spoke about experiences in the elementary and middle school of students with increased behaviors, inability to stay on task and attributes it to lack of school structure during the pandemic.
J. Girard spoke about the school’s efforts to address the mental health needs of students, ongoing referrals for extra educational supports and navigating the balance of both educational and social/emotional needs.
T. Tyburki from Culture, Parks & Recreation reports that summer programming registration opens this week and they are seeing a very positive response. They are celebrating 50 years of Simsbury Farms this summer and are looking forward to some summer celebrations. T. Tyburki reports collaborating with the Simsbury Public Library for some special events planning. Culture, Parks & Recreation is specifically looking to hire lifeguards & a few camp counselors.
M. Richardson, Simsbury Teen Librarian, reports an increase in weekly program participation. Her Youth Board at the library is working on a community garden this summer and it will be a “pizza garden.” M. Richardson reports there is programming coming up on the next early release day and it will feature a double feature movie of Encanto & Luca.
R. Loveland of Simsbury Community & Social Services spoke of recent programming including Holiday take home kit, upcoming February take home kit, holiday programing, past & upcoming sensory-friendly events as well as upcoming intergenerational events with Simsbury Senior Center.
No student concerns were indicated.
Having no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 2:35 PM.
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Rachael Loveland