AMHERST — An action plan centered around improving mental health for students and staff at the Amherst public schools is underway.

During a recent Amherst Regional School Committee, Maureen Fleming, the district’s mental health and behavioral administrator, explained that the mental health strategic action plan, partly focused on LGBTQIA+ students and families, comes with an understanding that harassment and bullying incidents are closely tied to mental health.

“We’re trying to develop, as a team, a rapid response to issues that come up,” Fleming said.

The effort includes providing individualized attention to students, with a plan to eventually create a student advisory group.

Fleming’s work is being done to counter the problems that were examined in a Title IX investigation and associated investigatory reports that revealed the actions of harassment and misconduct by staff toward students based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

Fleming is also meeting with all counselors districtwide and with building principals about what they need, getting help from the Stonewall Center and the state’s Safe Schools for LGBTQ Students program and working with agencies like TransHealth, and the school’s Sexuality and Gender Alliance.

“I think we’re trying to develop this rapid response system, get support systems in place, meet with parents, teachers,” Fleming said.

“The mental health piece, that’s going to go for years,” Fleming said. “I think the pandemic has shown us it’s going to take years to get people on track, staff and students.”

Fleming is looking at reports of bullying and harassment data to develop better safety plans and to do more preventive work in the elementary grades. “The counseling needs are intense, and everyone’s working really, really hard,” Fleming said.

As an advisory to students who have complaints, and don’t feel comfortable going to a counselor, they are told to find a trusted adult, whether it be a classroom teacher or even a coach.

Any staff member should be able to make a report, as well, said Marta Guevara, director of student and family engagement. “We’ve been working with people so they are comfortable coming forward,” Guevara said.

Interim Superintendent Douglas Slaughter said many avenues should be available for students and adults. “There should be no barriers as there were, or perceived, in the past,” Slaughter said.

Employees honored

Several employees for the town of Amherst were recently recognized for achieving milestone anniversaries.

Leading the way were three Department of Public Works employees. They include Thomas Waterman, an employee for 35 years, and Rodney Willis and Jeffrey Bowser, both working for the town for 30 years.

At 25 years employment are DPW worker Stephen Feltovic and Miguel Otero at the Jones Library.

Marking 20 years were Scott Thurston at the police department, Christopher Goodhind and Jeffrey Parr at the fire department, Planning Director Christine Brestrup, Peter Carlson at the DPW, David Waskiewicz at inspections, Mary Weidensaul at the Jones Library and John Coelho at recreation.

Boutique wine and beer store

Aster and Pine Market, a boutique wine and beer store with local and imported culinary ingredients and produce, is being planned for 189 North Pleasant St.

The Board of License Commissioners recently approved a license for the business. Owner William Nurse said he wanted to open in a community that would be responsive to this concept, bringing his hospitality and fine dining background to the retail sector

Nurse points to thriving residential buildings, like One East Pleasant and Kendrick Place, that are nearby. “It’s such an up and coming area,” Nurse said.

The store replaces Vici Hair Studio & Beauty Bar, whose owner moved the business to Hatfield, where it is now called The Beauty Bar.

Francophone Night

The French Club at Amherst Regional High School is hosting its annual Francophone Night at the high school cafeteria Jan. 10 from 6 to 8 p.m.

The menu will include a Francophone student-led potluck and a Moroccan meal catered by Amanouz Café. The cultural show will include research presentations, poetry, live music, singing, dancing and trivia. Tickets are $10 for students, $15 for adults and free for children under 5.

For more information, contact Miguel Piñero-Jacome at pinerojacomem@arps.org or Oumy Cissé at cisseo@arps.org.

Meetings

THURSDAY: Board of License Commissioners, 5:30 p.m. and Zoning Board of Appeals, 6 p.m.