PRESCOTT – The Prescott School Board heard a presentation from Northwest Journey at its July meeting; the program wants to expand its services to 14-17-year-olds in its Prescott location, which is currently housed in the Malone Intermediate School building at 125 Elm St. N.

According to its website, Northwest Journey provides children’s mental health day treatment.

“Our sites serve over 200 children and families daily in 11 communities throughout Wisconsin,” their website states. “We also provide virtual programming options for clients. The first program was started in 1994, and at the time, represented the first full-day day treatment program in the state. It is the goal of the staff of each Northwest Journey site to play a valued role in the larger mental health treatment network within the community in which they function.”

Program Director Brittany Paulson and Clinical Coordinator Skye Summers, who is also a mental health therapist, spoke to the board. NJ has five full-time employees in Prescott, one part-time and three interns. In 2026, they served between 13-18 clients at a time at the Prescott location, which is kept separate and locked from the Malone Intermediate students and spaces. They currently serve children in the Prescott, Ellsworth, River Falls, Hudson and New Richmond school districts, Paulson said.

Staff realizes the Intermediate School building may be sold, but if it’s not, NJ would like to expand its programming to include kids ages 14-17.

“We are seeing increased referrals from in-patient facilities for kids ages 12-17 who are suicidal or practicing self-harm,” Paulson said. “So right now, if we were to get a referral for say, a 15-year-old or 16-year-old from Prescott maybe they’re coming out of the hospital, one of those situations, they would currently have to go to our Menomonie program. No kid at that age is going to want to sit in a vehicle that long, but also, why wouldn’t we keep them right here in this community, right?”

Paulson said the program potentially helps reduce the number of crimes committed by teens or suicide attempts. They would like to increase their space after the 2026-27 school year.

NJ has 12 law enforcement contacts in Prescott in 2025 and one in 2026. Any destruction results in an immediate discharge or transition to another program site, Summers said.

“The only law enforcement contact regarding clients over the age of 10 have been for elopement, self-harm/suicidality and destruction of property (resulting in immediate discharge),” Paulson said. “Physically aggressive behaviors toward others in our setting have only occurred from clients age 8-10.”

Protocols they would put in place (many of which already are) if this was approved by the board include:

• Motivation plans
• Break plans
• Safety plans
• Crisis plans

Staff also review all records prior to a child’s start date to ensure there has been no recent physical aggression reported. If any physical aggression would occur, the student would immediately be transferred to virtual programming or an alternative location.

This item will possibly be back before the board at the August meeting.

REVA update

Prescott High School Principal Josh Fiege is working with a Department of Public Instruction representative on the charter and a benchmarks document for the new River’s Edge Virtual Academy.

“We are putting out a call for other governance board applicants, encouraging parents, community business owners (especially those who work with kids), to apply,” Fiege said. “We need four filled from outside the district. We are asking interested candidates to submit an application. The hope is to have those recommended by August.”

Other business

• The Cardinal Champion for July was student worker Collin Kosmalski, who has been working on the summer maintenance and custodial crew for the past three years and does an excellent job, Supt. Jim Reif said.
• The board approved the following new hires: PHS English Language Arts teacher Ellie Barlow Sager and PHS/PMS Tech Ed teacher Tahtankka Damm.
• The board approved the head coaches for the 2026-27 school year:
  • Football: Jordan Hansen
  • Volleyball: Geoffrey Snyder
  • Cross Country: Tim Philips
  • Girls Golf: Chad Salay
  • Wrestling: Nick Zajac
  • Boys Basketball: Nick Johnson
  • Girls Basketball: Owen Hamilton
  • Dance: Samantha Marks
  • Baseball: Brad Matzek
  • Softball: Nick Johnson
  • Boys Golf: Scott Hamilton
  • Girls Track & Field: Emily Calabrese
  • Boys Track & Field: Carl Calabrese
• The board approved a girls golf trip Aug. 17-18 to Superior. The golf team’s fundraising will cover the costs; the district will provide a district van and fuel.