Student advisory council raises concerns about counselor access and campus safety; district staff commit to follow-up

The St. Lucie Public Schools Youth Advisory Council told the board that students across the district are having trouble accessing guidance counselors, and asked the district to improve communication and mental-health support.

Joshua Leachau, vice chairman of the Youth Advisory Council, reported that students told council members they experience long waits to book counselor meetings, instances of scheduled appointments not being honored and inconsistent systems for requesting help. He said, "Doctor Helen, the deputy superintendent, and Miss Nikki Poole, executive director of guidance, were both in attendance..." and that both administrators committed to looking into the issues discussed at the council meeting.

Council members also reported misinformation about college credit courses and asked for clearer coordination between high school counselors and Indian River State College advisors. Students suggested designated counselor office hours to improve accessibility and recommended improving the district's counseling-platform responsiveness.

The council raised a separate campus-safety concern about traffic near a school and requested additional crossing guard support before and after school. The council's meeting on Feb. 24 concluded after comprehensive discussion; the next Youth Advisory Council meeting was announced for March 31 at Mosaic Digital Academy.

District staff in attendance — identified in the report as Deputy Superintendent Dr. Helen Wilde and Nikki Poole, Executive Director of Guidance — committed to investigate the counselor access problems and to address platform and communication gaps between counselors and community college advisors. No formal board action was recorded; the report requested follow-up from district personnel.