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Highlands Middle counselors press board to disclose enhanced ESA funding, request third counselor
Summary
A former Highlands Middle School counselor told the Kennewick board that district allocations of enhanced ESA funding are unclear and urged the board to add a third counselor at Highlands, citing survey data showing many students identify counselors as trusted adults.
At the Kennewick School District meeting, former Highlands Middle School counselor Jojo Davis asked the board to account for enhanced ESA funding and to follow through on a previously stated goal to provide a third counselor at Highlands Middle School.
Davis said she had repeatedly asked district staff and board members for an accounting of the enhanced funding and had not received a clear answer. "Where did the enhanced ESA funding go? I was told by Micah in an email that it's not a secret, it's public knowledge, but . . . how are we as a public to know this answer?" she asked the board.
She cited local data from Highlands showing that more than 47% of students named school counselors as trusted adults. "Can you imagine just two of us? What we could do with a third?" she asked, urging the board to add a counselor to middle school staff rosters.
Davis also described counselors' allocation of time and duties, saying that they provide approximately 80% direct services and 20% indirect services and participate in equitable shared roles. She asked for a clear response from the district about how the enhanced state allocations were used and whether the third counselor commitment would be fulfilled.
Board members acknowledged the request and said they would follow up through staff; no formal action or vote was taken at the meeting.
