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Charlottesville Youth Council urges more counselors, changes to CHS phone policies
Summary
The Youth Council reported focus-group findings from Charlottesville High School showing distrust of counselors and concerns about hallway staff phone confiscations; the students recommended increased counselor capacity and shifting phone-collection responsibilities to classroom teachers.
The Charlottesville Youth Council presented its 2024–25 annual report to City Council on May 19, urging stronger school mental-health supports and procedural changes at Charlottesville High School. Youth Council members said two focus groups of CHS students found a lack of trust in counselors, disruptions caused by hallway staff confiscating phones for the whole day, and a desire for better communication between students and school staff.
Youth Council members described their research method—two focus groups of CHS students—and summarized three primary findings: students felt counselors were not accessible or trusted for mental-health help; hallway staff (CSAs) who remove phones sometimes create class disruptions and late bus departures; and students identified a need for increased counselor capacity and clearer, less disruptive phone policies. The presenters recommended shifting phone collection to teachers during class and expanding counselor staffing and office hours so students can build relationships with trusted adults.
The council suggested the Youth Council share its findings with the school board and school administrators; a vice chair of the school board was noted in the audience and presenters were encouraged to bring the report to the school board. City councilors thanked the youth presenters and noted the upcoming timeline for staff studies of school resource officer and CSA roles, and potential budget discussions in the fall.
What happens next: youth presenters asked that the school board and district administrators review the focus-group findings and consider changes to counselor staffing and phone-policy implementation ahead of the next school year.
