Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District – Mental Health Training Component of the New York SAVE Act (S9-21-24)

Issued Date
June 08, 2022

[read complete report - pdf]

Audit Objective

Determine whether the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District (District) used District resources to provide the mental health component of the New York Safe Schools Against Violence in Education Act (SAVE Act) training requirement to staff.

Key Findings

The District did not provide mental health training as required to all staff for the 2020-21 school year by September 15, 2020.

  • Thirty of the 81 employees’ records we tested showed training was not completed by September 15, 2020, as required by New York State Education Department (SED) regulations.
  • All 12 recommended components of mental health that educators should know were included in the District’s training.

Key Recommendation

Provide mental health training to all staff and ensure it is completed by September 15, as required. Such training should address recognition of the warning signs, whom to turn to for assistance, and how to access appropriate services.

District officials agreed with our recommendation and indicated they will take corrective action.