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Students and staff urge board to keep high‑school counselor and reassess STAR pilot
Summary
Parents, teachers and students asked the board to reconsider eliminating a counselor position at St. Helena High School and criticized the STAR reading pilot's effectiveness; a student leader said she will return with a petition in April.
Multiple parents, teachers and students used the public‑comment period to urge the board to retain a high‑school counseling position that the district has proposed to eliminate. Activities Director Madeline Breazeale and 33‑year high‑school teacher Paige Vanderbilt‑Rios told trustees they were concerned about the effects of the reduction on student support. Student body president Tatum Smith said she will return in April with a petition opposing the proposal.
Parent Jason Moulton also raised concerns about the STAR reading pilot and whether it is meeting students’ needs. Coach and staff speakers asked the board to weigh alternatives before removing counseling supports. The speakers requested the district consider other ways to meet both academic-assessment and student‑support goals before finalizing layoffs or reductions in counseling staff.
Board members did not take a vote during public comment; the item referencing counselor staffing remained an agenda‑topic for future consideration. Superintendent Dr. Jodi McClay and staff signaled earlier in the meeting that personnel matters, timelines and next steps would be shared with the board and affected families as decisions progress.
