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Public commenters urge restoring counseling programs after recent student deaths; board members respond
Summary
Multiple public commenters told the board that cuts to school‑based mental‑health programs left students and teachers without needed supports. Rachel White cited counseling‑staff benchmarks and studies linking counselor ratios to graduation rates; board members and administrators responded with procedural clarifications and noted district hires and contract issues.
During public comment at the July 20 meeting, Rachel White of Raritan Township urged the board to reconsider cuts to structured student‑support programs and to prioritize counseling resources.
"When we eliminate those programs, we don't eliminate the need," White told the board, citing American School Counselor Association guidance that recommends one counselor per 250 students and summarizing a Missouri study and a 2023 Washington study that she said link counselor availability to higher graduation rates.
White said programs such as CarePlus and school‑based youth services identify students at risk and connect them with supports before crises escalate. "Programs like CarePlus and school based youth services exist to identify students who are struggling and intervene before a situation escalates," she said.
Board members and district officials responded during later board comment. A board member clarified that the district terminated school‑based youth services last year because of contract issues and a separate personnel termination, not because the board voted to remove services. The board member said the district subsequently hired a full‑time counselor and confirmed that 24/7 wraparound services are available through outside providers.
Other public commenters criticized the civility of some board members and expressed grief over recent student deaths; one speaker described how past mental‑health programming had helped their child recover after a school suicide. The board acknowledged condolences and emphasized ongoing work on student supports and goal‑setting.
The board did not reverse prior contract decisions during the meeting; members said they will continue to discuss mental‑health supports as part of the district’s goals and operational planning.
