Former LVHS student and parent tell Los Banos Unified board counselors were 'apathetic' and late with summer‑school referrals

At a Los Banos Unified School District board meeting, former Las Banos High School student Javier Powell and parent Christina Powell urged trustees to address what they characterized as counselor complacency that, they said, harmed students' access to summer school and recovery of credits. Powell said the counselor's apparent lack of engagement contributed to his own struggles and to his sister being placed on a waitlist for summer school because the referral was submitted late.

"This loses us valuable members of our society who were failed by most adults in their life," Javier Powell said, recounting a two‑year struggle with depression after surgery and describing counselors who, in his view, did not show belief or active support. Christina Powell said the family was told only the day before paperwork was due that the referral had been submitted, leaving her daughter low on the enrollment list.

The Powells warned that the problem could be worse for students without strong support systems at home and urged the district to ensure counselors follow through on timely referrals and interventions. A parent speaker noted others at the school reported similar delays.

The board chair recommended the Powells set an appointment with the district's director of secondary education to pursue the issue further. The board did not take immediate action on the specific complaints at the meeting; the chair directed the family to administrative staff for follow‑up.