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Counselors report falling suspension rates, expanded care‑closet use and rising attendance supports
Summary
District counselors reported an 85% improvement in attendance referrals, suspension rates down substantially, more than 5,000 families reached by food distribution and rapidly rising care‑closet use (280 uses last year; 530 this year). Trustees praised the work and asked about resourcing and program expansion.
Jefferson Elementary School District counselors and student‑services leaders presented a data‑driven update on social‑emotional learning, counseling outreach and family supports, citing declines in suspensions, growing use of on‑site care closets, and stepped‑up attendance interventions.
Program director Stephanie Martinez described a broad portfolio of supports: "minute meetings" to touch every student in short one‑on‑one check‑ins, student workshops, restorative‑practice cohorts, and school‑based care closets stocked with essentials. Jamie Martial, a counselor at George Washington, said the care closet was accessed about 280 times last school year and is already at 530 uses this year, with snacks and period products among the most requested items.
Martinez said the district’s attendance support team — family liaisons, community schools coordinator and site administrators — has seen an "85% improvement" in SAR referrals tied to proactive family check‑ins and referrals to community resources. Trustees praised reductions in suspension rates (presenters cited declines of 57% overall and 44% in‑house) and asked how counselors determine needs for IEPs or additional services; staff said they investigate incidents with age and developmental stage in mind and coordinate referrals to appropriate services.
Presenters also described partnerships (including a campus‑level sorority fundraising relationship) that help replenish care‑closet supplies, food distribution that has served "over 5,000 families," and student advisory councils that inform school climate improvements such as food services changes and culturally inclusive activities.
Trustees commended the counseling team’s focus on prevention, data‑driven interventions and community partnerships and asked staff to provide further details on resourcing and plans to expand care‑closet and kindness‑club models to more sites.
