The Parkland School District Board of Directors has approved an affiliation agreement with Lehigh University to provide school psychology interns to the district.

At an April committee meeting, Dr. Matthew Carlson, director of student services, said the Lehigh interns will have the opportunity to learn skills from Parkland’s school psychologists while also providing assistance to district staff.

Carlson explained individuals looking for internships contact the district and are then interviewed to see if they will be a “good fit” for Parkland.

The district intends to pay a $6,000 stipend for each intern.

The Lehigh internship program will begin in the 2025-2026 school year and will be in effect for five years.

“Parkland would like to continue an ongoing partnership with Lehigh University to support the training of school psychologists which is more important than ever given the massive shortage,” Carlson said.

He noted Lehigh has the only school psychologist program in the area. It had seven graduates last year.

Superintendent Dr. Mark Madson reported there is a national shortage of school psychologists and he is working with schools and legislators to expand programs and get more interest in the field.

In another matter the board voted approval to the food services department to apply for a grant to participate in the Culinary Training Academy this summer.

“This will help support our initiative of bringing scratch cooking back to our cafeteria next school year,” Casey Troutman, director of food services, said about the program.

She said the culinary changes, which will be implemented at all district buildings will focus on regional cuisines favored by students such as East and Southeast Asian fusion, Latin American and Mediterranean.

Troutman noted the sessions will provide training on improving the nutritional quality of school meals.

Several representatives from the food services department will attend the culinary academy.

If received, the grant will offset the $500 cost for attending while also providing $4,000 for the 2025-2026 implementation of lessons learned at the academy.