The Mercer Island City Council and School Board decided to continue their agreement to fund mental health counselors in schools for at least one more year at their respective meetings on Sept. 6 and Sept. 8.

The current agreement started Sept. 1 and ends Aug. 31, 2017.

Since 1979, the city’s Youth and Family Services (YFS) department has placed mental health counselors in each of the Mercer Island School District’s elementary, middle and high schools, as well as the Crest Learning Center for collaborative counseling programs. The current total cost of the program is $599,831, which supports 7.5 full time employees. The city pays $539,831 and the district contributes $60,000.

The counselors are: four full-time elementary school counselors, one full-time middle school counselor, one half-time middle school prevention services support, one full-time high school counselor and one full-time high school alcohol/drug specialist.

This year’s agreement reflected the addition of a full-time mental health counselor for the new, fourth elementary school and an adjustment to service provision at the middle school.

Councilmember Dan Grausz wondered why the district wasn’t contributing more to reflect the increase in services. Finance Director Chip Corder said that to a Mercer Island taxpayer, it doesn’t matter where the money is coming from, as the city and district share borders. The district is also bumping up against its levy cap, where the city has more wiggle room. The council has been discussing a levy lid lift in 2017 to fund programs like the YFS counselors.

The school board passed the agreement in its consent agenda, without discussion.

“This Agreement represents a continued commitment to the students on Mercer Island by both the District and City,” according to the agenda. “The District greatly appreciates the City’s financial and human investment in supporting the mental health of our students.”