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Student ambassador urges board to bolster mental‑health supports and reconsider cuts to IB electives
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Summary
Fernanda Galvin, the student ambassador, told the board that recent student deaths have strained peers and staff and urged the district to preserve IB electives and world‑language opportunities that she says will be lost under proposed schedule changes.
Fernanda Galvin, the Westminster High School student ambassador, told the board on April 28 that recent student deaths have deeply affected classmates and teachers and called for more visible mental‑health resources and outreach.
“I've obviously struggled with losing classmates myself,” Galvin said. “We could also bring more awareness towards mental illnesses… suicide prevention, and various other issues to let students know they are not alone.” She urged the board to check in on students and noted that simple gestures can have an outsized impact.
Galvin also urged the board to reconsider proposed schedule changes and the removal of International Baccalaureate (IB) elective courses, saying the changes would “interrupt IB classes,” reduce rigorous course time and limit opportunities for students who hope to pursue selective colleges. She said world‑language offerings and visual arts electives are especially at risk and would reduce paths for bilingual and high‑achieving students.
Board members responded with condolences and recognition of staff supports. Board member Dan thanked Galvin and other students for sharing their perspectives and reminded the public that no final decision has been made about Hidden Lake Secondary School. Several trustees praised staff for responsiveness during recent events and highlighted available counseling supports.
The board’s agenda included separate policy items — a first reading of a student cell‑phone policy (to comply with Colorado House Bill 1135) and a first reading of an updated student dress‑code policy — that will return for second readings on May 12. Galvin asked the board to consider programmatic impacts as those and other scheduling decisions move forward.
