BOE Discusses Funding 'Natural Helpers' at MEMS

During their Aug. 2 meeting, the Manalapan-Englishtown Board of Education decided to move forward on restoring approximately $20,000 in funding to Natural Helpers, a peer guidance counseling program in .

“Students in Natural Helpers get involved with students who are dealing with social, emotional, [and] academic issues,” said MEMS Principal Robert Williams to the Board of Education.

Williams attended the meeting with MEMS guidance counselor Rosalyn Goldsmith, who oversees the club. Both Goldsmith and Williams said that the program has been present in the district for the last 20 years; today, the Natural Helpers are extensively trained in helping their classmates deal with bullying issues.

"Kids don't really talk to their parents as much as we'd like them to. So, basically they talk to their friends," Goldsmith explained. The students chosen for Natural Helpers are voted in by their peers, but Goldmith would like to pre-screen them, as well. 

Goldsmith said that MEMS' peer counseling group is a more formal approach. "Natural Helpers is more comforting for students at that age, because they sometimes don't want that formality," said Goldsmith. 

Board member Ralph Cafaro asked if the Natural Helpers can be readily available during the school day to help a peer in need. Assistant Superintendent Joanne Monroe said that Natural Helpers is just what its name implies: the work they do will often take place outside formal meetings, in the cafeteria, by a locker, or on the sports field.

Goldsmith and Williams said they want to focus on selecting 35 rising seventh graders to resume Natural Helpers. Goldsmith and co-supervisor Kenneth Stokum took over the program last year after Barabara Rosenblum retired. At that point, the eighth graders had already been selected as seventh graders. Since funding for the program stopped last year, there are currently no seventh or eighth graders in the program. It is essentially “starting from scratch,” said Board President Michele Stipelman.

Monroe confirmed that in the past the funding was obtained through a grant and did not come from the Board’s pocket. If funding is restored, the selection would take place in October and training would begin in November at a stay-over weekend at Mount Misery in Browns Mills, N.J. The weekend serves as an informative bonding session for the helpers, and ongoing training is provided throughout the year.

Board Member Joseph DePasquale asked if there has ever been backlash against a Natural Helper. Williams said that the students are trained in matters of confidentiality, and many times students are happy that their peers can help them.

Board Member Brian Graime asked if the program retains students. Williams said that he doesn’t remember anyone dropping out, and it’s never a struggle to find 35 willing students in the training class. Board President Michele Stipelman then asked Superintendent John J. Marciante Jr. to weigh in on the discussion.

Marciante focused on the financial reality of the program. “I do think that we’re spending $20,000 on them [the Natural Helpers]. They may help to a certain degree, and I’m not going to say they don’t. But I think the gain from that is for those individuals. It leads to their emotional development, and it’s a training that they grow from,” said the superintendent.  

“I do feel that the board has to make a decision regarding priorities," Marciante added. "Down the line, we argue about $4,000 and $2,000 for this. This is $20,000. I think you have to have a level view of this compared to everything else we talk about.”

Board member Diane Bindler disagreed with taking a strict financial view of this program. “If you prevent one suicide, I think $20,000 is a drop in the bucket,” Bindler said, also noting the increased pressure on teenagers with Facebook and bullying problems that weren’t a factor 20 years ago.  

The Board members present took an informal vote in which they agreed that they’d like to see the program funded. Board Vice-President Lori Semel was absent for the meeting, and members Annamarie Galante and James Mumolie arrived after the discussion. 

A formal resolution to restore funding to the Natural Helpers will appear on the Aug. 16 meeting agenda.