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Trustees urge more school counselors after data shows high student‑to‑counselor ratios on some campuses
Summary
Board members highlighted uneven counselor staffing, citing examples like Silva (about 639 students per counselor), and asked administration and finance committee to explore options to fund additional counselor positions and to fill the vacant counseling director role.
Trustees pressed district leaders for a plan to address what they described as dangerously high counselor‑to‑student ratios at several campuses. Trustee Jackie Sustaita said her review of staffing counts showed some campuses had roughly 300 students per counselor, while others — including Silva — had as many as 639 students assigned to a single counselor; she urged prioritizing counselor hires and filling a vacant director of counseling position.
Coach Serna and other trustees supported the request, noting national association ratios and arguing that counselor presence correlates with student success and safety. Administration said existing MOUs, consultants and social-work partnerships provide some support and that head counselors are working to renew MOUs; the superintendent and finance committee agreed to review budget options and consider adding positions in the spring budget cycle if necessary.
