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Counselors’ staffing at stake as board weighs cutting one position; parents and counselors push back
Summary
Administrators proposed eliminating one counselor position (from nine to eight) now that COVID ESSER funds have lapsed; many counselors and parents said the cut would worsen already-high counselor‑to‑student ratios and harm student mental‑health supports.
The proposed budget reductions include eliminating one counseling position that was initially funded with ESSER COVID money, reducing the district total from nine counselors to eight. Superintendent Wayne Wormstead said the emergency funding that supported two counselors has lapsed and that restoring such positions would require general-fund allocations.
In public comment, school counselors and parents urged the board not to eliminate the position. "If we go down from 9 counselors to 8, our ratio will be right around 1 counselor for every 370 students," said Maria Hartoun, who identified herself as a school counselor. She cited the American School Counselor Association recommendation of 1 counselor per 250 students and warned that cutting a position would raise caseloads and increase student risk by limiting timely access to mental-health support.
Administrators said they would consider public feedback and weigh alternatives before any final action; no final board vote was taken on counselor staffing at this meeting.
