Palmerton Area School District’s board of directors voted Wednesday to renew its embedded mental health program with St. Luke’s Penn Foundation for $32,000 in the 2026-27 school year. The approval, however, was not before Board President Sherry Haas raised questions about whether the district is paying increasingly more to a single provider across multiple contracts, and whether it has adequately explored alternatives.

The YESS program places two licensed psychotherapists inside district buildings, one full time and one at roughly 0.6 of a full-time position, to provide in-school mental health services to students and staff. The $32,000 represents the first time the district has been asked to pay for services it previously received at no cost.

Haas raised concerns that extended beyond the $32,000 figure itself.

“It was brought to my attention that there have been other items that started free or very low cost from this provider that have been adding up, with more and more things being included in what we’re having to pay,” Haas said. “I said at the last meeting you can’t put a price tag on mental health, and this is mental health, but it might be to our advantage to see if there’s something out there that matches this.”

Haas clarified the concern was not limited to the YESS contract alone, but reflected a broader pattern of expanding costs tied to St. Luke’s across multiple district agreements. Other board members redirected the discussion, noting that the vote before them was specifically about the YESS program.

Fellow directors pushed back on the premise that alternatives would be comparable or cheaper.

“Unless we’re looking to switch networks, we’re going to be very hard pressed to find this type of service to come into our school on a full-time and at a 0.6 basis, because it will cost over $32,000,” Stacey Connell said. “There’s a shortage of mental health professionals throughout the country, so network support is definitely helpful to our students.”

Board member Erin Snyder raised a concern that cut at the human dimension of the debate: the relationship between a student and a therapist is not interchangeable.

“It is very difficult for a child to start over with a new psychotherapist,” she said. “It’s almost like they have to start completely over.”

That distinction, that students are seeing the same two therapists consistently, not rotating among providers, appeared to shift the room.

“I understand now,” director Earl Paules said following the conversation. “I can see that being difficult.”

Others pointed to the value already demonstrated by the program.

“Looking at what we’re getting for the cost, and just those relationships that have been built and that trust with those students,” director MaryJo King said, the district should move forward.

Wednesday’s motion passed without opposition.

Administration signaled the vote should not close the door on future exploration. The district is evaluating a PCCD mental health and safety and security grant that could offset the $32,000 cost, and Assistant Superintendent Ryan Kish said other options could be presented to the board later in the school year.

“This keeps us moving,” Kish said of Wednesday’s vote.