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District accountability committee urges more counselors, family advocates and social workers in Greeley School District 6
Summary
The District Accountability Committee presented budget recommendations focusing on mental health supports and staffing: at least one elementary school counselor in each school, parent and family advocates, maintaining low class sizes and social workers in all K-12 schools were top priorities.
At the Board of Education business meeting on May 12, the District Accountability Committee (DAC) presented its top budget priorities for consideration as district staff finalize the 2025'26 budget. The board received the recommendations; DAC did not request an immediate board vote.
Why it matters: DAC represents parent and community stakeholders and its priorities inform district budget planning. Committee members emphasized mental-health and student support staffing as central to student success and recovery following disruptions from the pandemic.
Nate Johnson, DAC chair, told the board DAC used a ranked matrix to set priorities and said the committee's highest recommended priority was providing at least one school counselor in each elementary school and increasing counselor numbers in K-8 and high schools. Johnson said that priority earned the highest point total in the committee's tally. Other top priorities were placing parent and family advocates in elementary and K-8 schools, maintaining low class sizes and staffing social workers in all K-12 schools.
Johnson also said DAC considered Panorama survey data, the district unified improvement plan and Innovation 2030 work when forming recommendations. DAC members spoke repeatedly about the districtwide need for mental-health support and the role counselors and social workers play in both academic guidance and student well-being.
Board members thanked DAC for the clear presentation and said they would keep the committee's priorities in mind as budget decisions are made. Board members also encouraged broader parent participation in DAC and noted the committee meets monthly.
Board action: The board received DAC's recommendations; no vote on specific budget allocations occurred at the meeting. DAC and district staff described the presentation as informational input for the FY2025-26 budget process.
Next steps: District staff will incorporate DAC input into budget development and return to the board with proposals for the coming fiscal year, district staff and DAC said.
