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Paradise Valley board approves travel for principals and counselors to national counseling conference amid split vote
Summary
The governing board approved travel for middle- and high-school principals and counselors to the National School Counselor Leadership Conference in San Diego. The item drew extended discussion about costs, staffing coverage, counselor-to-student ratios and expected outcomes; the motion passed 4'to'1 with one trustee opposed.
The Paradise Valley Unified School District governing board voted 4'to'1 to approve out-of-state travel for principals and counselors to the National School Counselor Leadership Conference in San Diego, a professional-development trip district leaders said is intended to support implementation of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) national model.
District presenters said the ASCA model provides a research-based framework for school counseling and that the conference focuses on data-driven systems designed to improve student academic outcomes, attendance and college and career readiness. "The ASCA national model is the only nationally recognized research based framework for school counseling...it is used in schools across the country to provide consistent, high quality services for students," Jackie Clayton, district lead school counselor, told the board.
Proponents said the conference is intended to help counselors and administrators spend more of their time in direct, student-facing services by providing templates and planning tools that can be implemented districtwide. "Attending this conference together...allows us to plan how to move forward with this model that benefits our students," Clayton said.
The proposal noted most participants would be funded with dual-enrollment and CTE funds, and presenters said no maintenance-and-operations (M&O) funds would be used. Some board members and staff described practical benefits, including enabling assistant principals to cover schools during absences.
Opponents raised concerns about cost and outcomes. Trustee Christiansen repeatedly questioned the return on investment, citing district spending trends and declining enrollment: "I am not a fan of that type of approach in schools because I would like to see us set the bar high for all our students and not put our students in boxes," she said during discussion. Christiansen also asked whether a "train-the-trainer" approach would suffice instead of sending a large group out of state.
Board discussion included data questions. Clayton said counselor-to-student ratios in the district are 1:400 for high school and 1:500 for middle school, while ASCA recommends 1:250. Supporters argued that training principals with counselors builds consistency and that some schools have many new counselors who would benefit from the conference.
Board members approved the travel request after debate. The motion was seconded and carried 4'to'1 (one "nay"). The board recorded that the district primarily would use dual-enrollment funds and existing school staffing plans to cover attendance. Trustees said they would track outcomes and that some members wanted evidence on retention and measurable academic impact going forward.
