Community speakers urge board not to cut Randolph Technical Center counselor

Multiple students, staff and parents urged the Randolph County Board of Education to preserve counseling positions, especially the vocational counselor at Randolph Technical Center, arguing that the role is integral to career-technical programming and postsecondary access.

"Counseling positions are not extra. They are essential," said a public commenter who addressed the board about the RTC counselor’s role supporting FAFSA completion, dual-credit enrollment and career partnerships.

Katrina Riverlin, who teaches robotics and drones at the technical center, said the counselor "is the strongest advocate that I've ever seen for career and technical centers" and that removing that staff member would reduce student access to scholarship, apprenticeship and work-based learning opportunities.

Hayden Sims, a high-school senior and student leader, told the board that the vocational counselor "is the most dedicated person I have ever seen employed in our county school system" and described the counselor’s leadership on after-school FAFSA nights, completion ceremonies and SkillsUSA advising.

Board members acknowledged the importance of counseling services and discussed how position postings and transfers are constrained by seniority rules and classifications. Administration said the position is not being eliminated district-wide but that school closures and reassignments have created a need to reallocate positions.

Speakers asked the board to consider alternative cuts that preserve direct student services and to prioritize positions that support students’ transitions to college, training and the workforce.