The mental health counselor for both Ridgway schools told Ridgway School Board members last week that the social-emotional learning and individual counseling needs of students persist at high levels, even as pandemic-related restrictions are loosened.

With more than 400 individual student visits so far this year, Sharon Brown told board members on April 22 that the need for the district to hire another person to assist with mental health services continues.

“Working every other day at each schoo...