Broward students press board on mental health, electives and college access at quarterly feedback session

Student leaders from across Broward County told the School Board on May 20 that schools are offering strong class options in many places but lack consistent access to mental-health services, reliable extracurricular funding and clear pathways to post‑secondary opportunities. The session, billed as the district’s first quarterly student and school board feedback event, brought 16 student advisors to the dais and drew sustained discussion from the board and district staff.

The students — one middle and one high school student selected from each school board district — raised similar themes. ‘‘I wish that there were more programs, particularly for certain career paths that children wanna go into,’’ said Tamilla Shellman, a senior at Deerfield Beach High School, urging more law and medical pathways. Josiah, a senior at McPhatter Technical High School, told the board that arts programs, band and theater were being squeezed: ‘‘We’re afraid that maybe in 5, 10 years there…