Nelson Mandela once said, “Our children are the rock on which our future will be built.” Michigan is now making moves to support that foundation.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday announced that schools are recruiting and hiring 560 more school psychologists, school social workers, school counselors and school nurses with the help of funding from the fiscal year 2022 State School Aid Act.

“The pandemic reminded us that school-based mental and physical health professionals are not luxuries,” Whitmer said in a statement. “Healthy students — physically, mentally and social-emotionally — are better learners. Having skilled professionals in school buildings helps our kids get the supports they need so they can thrive in the classroom and beyond.”

Children require academic, social, emotional and physical supports, both in and out of school, said state Superintendent Michael F. Rice in a statement.

“School communities across the state are appreciative of this critical new fiscal year 2022 budget investment negotiated between the governor and the state legislature,” Rice said. “This $240 million begins the requisite school support for our children’s mental health and physical needs.”

Tina Kerr, executive director of the Michigan Association of Superintendents & Administrators, said in a statement that the health and well-being of Michigan’s students continues to be a top priority for both MASA and its members.

“Now, more than ever, our students need access to these services, and there’s no better place than in our schools to provide them,” Kerr said. “We are very pleased to see this important funding going to districts across the state so they can hire the key staff needed to support our students.”

In the fiscal year 2022 budget, Whitmer and the Michigan Legislature worked together to appropriate $240 million to increase the number of school-based professionals to support students’ mental and physical health, the governor’s office said.

To date, 210 school districts have applied for grant funding to hire 562 staff members, including 60 school psychologists, 226 school social workers, 146 school counselors and 130 school nurses.

Grant funds help districts hire staff and gradually transition from fully funding the positions with state funds in the first year to fully funding the positions with local funds in the fourth year.

With the COVID-19 pandemic came all kinds of uncertainty, and that wasn’t just limited to our adult population. A staggering number of our children in school also experienced setbacks as a result of distanced learning, lack of socialization, and so on.

Being back in the classroom has certainly helped, but the aid created by the 2022 State School Aid Act will go a long way to help these kids as they pave a path toward their future.

The application period is still open, and all districts are eligible to apply. Districts can review frequently asked questions and submit their application by visiting Michigan.gov/MDE. Districts must hire staff by March 1 to qualify.