The Panther Valley School District hired a school psychologist and two other professionals Wednesday night, and added a program to help students get counseling services.

The board added Douglas Fedor as a full-time school psychologist at a salary of $95,000 to the district’s ranks, as it continues to strengthen its staff to handle an increase in the number of special education students.

Last month, the board returned Lanae McKelvey to her role as school psychologist and assistant special education director, and hired Byrnn Roosell as a school psychologist.

Robert Palazzo, the district’s supervisor of curriculum, student and community services, has also been working as a school psychologist to help with the workload.

The board also approved an agreement with Cartwheel Health Services to provide counseling services for students, using remaining pandemic funding for social emotional learning.

“This is a tier-three intervention, which means it’s the highest level of support,” Palazzo told the board about the program. “All of the school counselors can log on and submit a referral for kids that needs counseling services, because the wait-lists are really long in the area.

“They guarantee no wait-list for the kids to get intakes. Once they do their intake, they’ll determine if they’re going to do the counseling sessions at home or during school.”

The school counselors can also facilitate the counseling in school, which is all virtual, Palazzo said, and Cartwheel can also refer them to other services, such as family-based psychiatric.

The district can send up to 25 referrals as part of the agreement, which runs for a full year. If successful, the district can then look to continue, Palazzo said.

“I think it’s going to be beneficial,” he said. “It’s another layer of support (for students).”

Superintendent David McAndrew Jr. said that the district could look at other grant funding in the future to pay for the program.

“We’re excited to try this program out,” he said. “It’s another avenue to helping our kids.”

The board also hired Aaron Joyce as a junior/senior high school guidance counselor at a salary of $45.003, and Tyler Mangold as an intermediate school special education teacher at a salary of $47,256, both per the union contract.