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Board to review allocations after members raise high guidance‑counselor caseloads at some schools
Summary
Board members urged staff to examine school-level guidance counselor allocations after hearing that at least one school with about 1,700 students has three counselors — roughly 570 students per counselor — exceeding target caseloads of about 250–300.
Board members pressed district staff to review guidance counselor staffing after members reported schools with large caseloads.
One board member said a school with about 1,700 students has three guidance counselors, equating to roughly 570 students per counselor, and said an ethical caseload would be closer to 250–300 students per counselor. Staff acknowledged hiring challenges and said some guidance counselor openings are being covered by staff with different certifications, including school social workers, while the district offers scholarships to current employees seeking certification as school guidance counselors.
Staff described the allocation and differentiation process: allocations provide positions to schools but principals may differentiate some allocations to other uses such as instructional coaches. Board members asked for a school‑by‑school review of allocations and differentiations to determine where additional guidance counselor positions are needed and whether vacancy dollars might be redirected to fill urgent roles.
Ending
Staff said the allocations process occurs in April and that they will review differentiated positions and staffing allocations and bring options to the board during the budget and allocation cycle.
