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Public commenters urge district to reconsider chaplain program, cite counselor caseloads
Summary
Two public speakers at the May 27 School Board meeting asked the district to revisit a campus chaplain program, arguing chaplains could support overwhelmed guidance counselors and students with mental health needs; a speaker also observed that an agenda item relating to an agreement had been pulled.
During public comment at the May 27 School Board of Osceola County meeting, two members of the public urged the board to reconsider permitting campus chaplains as a voluntary support program, and cited counselor caseloads and unmet student mental-health needs.
Zee Neli Hernandez, who identified herself as a resident, said many students with mental and spiritual needs are not receiving support and urged the board to “bring God back to schools” through a chaplaincy program. Hernandez referenced campus chaplain programs elsewhere and told the board she had researched models and asked whether a district representative — specifically a District 3 representative — would help lead the effort.
Diane Knight, speaking later in public comment, framed her remarks not primarily on religion but on counselor staffing. Knight said Harmony High School had eight counselors with caseloads near 400 students, and that Poinciana High School’s five counselors had caseloads of about 700 students each. “I believe that having chaplains could help our guidance counselors,” she said, asking the board to “please just look at it again” and consider bringing the program back for discussion or study.
Hernandez also stated during public comment that she noticed agenda item 8.03 had been pulled and said the agreement was “pulled.” The transcript records her remark but does not show a board action during the meeting to confirm whether the board or an applicant initiated a withdrawal; the public comment was the source of the claim in the record.
Board members did not take action on the chaplain program during the meeting. Public comment closed and the meeting proceeded to the next agenda items.
