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Parents and teachers urge district to restore middle‑school counselors as board weighs wellness‑coach contract
Summary
Dozens of students, counselors and union leaders told the Pajaro Valley Unified board that cutting counselors threatens student safety and outcomes, and criticized a plan to add outside ‘wellness coaches’ while counselor positions remain frozen. The board postponed a contract amendment to allow more review.
Hundreds of public commenters and district staff pressed the Pajaro Valley Unified School District board on Sept. 10 to restore full‑time school counselors at middle schools and to avoid replacing credentialed counselors with outside contractors.
Students and counselors described how two counselors per middle school keep “peace pods” open, respond immediately to crises and coordinate special‑education supports. “Only having one counselor would mean our peace pod would not be open for daily support,” Cesar Chavez Middle student Yahit Reosa told the board, saying the loss of a second counselor would reduce access for students who need help immediately.
Counselors who spoke said recent reassignments left some sites split across campuses, increasing caseloads and eroding continuity of…
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