LBJ students call for student ‘Zen rooms’; district outlines telehealth, counselors and summer outreach

Students from Lyndon B. Johnson High School presented a student‑led mental‑health awareness project at a United Independent School District workshop and urged the board and district staff to pilot student “Zen rooms,” longer lunch periods and screen‑free days to reduce stress for pupils.

The district’s director of guidance and counseling, Melissa Ramirez, told the board the district already provides several supports, including a telehealth program that offers four 60‑minute sessions free to qualifying students through a memorandum of understanding with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, licensed professional counselors on campuses and partnerships with outside agencies. "We also have 4 LPCs," Ramirez said, describing the staffing model that supports campus…