A San Diego County Civil Grand Jury report found that Grossmont Union High School District students were left without a designated mental health provider and suicide prevention program for four months after the district board rejected a contract with San Diego Youth Services, according to East County Magazine.

The report, released June 1, examined the board's 2023 decision not to renew the nonprofit's long-standing contract. East County Magazine reported that the grand jury found the decision relied on inaccurate public comments about services for transgender students, and that the school-based care provided to GUHSD campuses was limited to mental health, bullying and suicide prevention support.

Grossmont Union High School District serves a broad East County area, including families connected to Santana High School in Santee. For parents, the findings matter because the report centers on whether students had reliable access to mental health support on campus during a period when the district was changing providers.

The district has 90 days from the report's release to respond to the grand jury's findings and recommendations. East County Magazine reported that the grand jury recommended renewed partnership with San Diego Youth Services and changes tied to state education code, district policies and ethics standards.

Source: East County Magazine, https://eastcountymagazine.org/grand-jury-finds-guhsds-conservative-trustees-hurt-students-with-alarming-mental-health-service-cuts-violating-state-law/