ECISD weighs added mental-health support, counselor workload changes
Arnoldo Mata
Edinburg, TX – Edinburg CISD trustees spent a significant portion of their Dec. 9th meeting discussing how to better support students’ mental health and ease the load on campus counselors.
Board members and administrators described daily calls from social workers and counselors dealing with student trauma, abuse cases and other emotional needs. “The need is great,” one administrator told trustees, noting that staff must often notify Child Protective Services and then develop plans to support students when they return to class.
Trustees raised concerns about counseling capacity, especially at large elementary schools. The district currently staffs one counselor at each elementary campus—some with enrollments approaching 800 students—three counselors at each middle school and seven to eight counselors at each high school. Several trustees warned that current ratios could “blow up in our face” if not addressed.
Superintendent Mario Salinas said the administration is taking advantage of new state compensatory education rules that give districts more flexibility with federally funded staff. Under the plan, curriculum assistants at elementary campuses will take on some testing and administrative tasks so counselors can move closer to an 80/20 split—80 percent counseling and 20 percent other duties.
Trustees also encouraged staff to expand partnerships with outside agencies, including UTRGV, to bring counseling interns and pro bono services into schools. One board member suggested the district could benefit from thousands of internship hours each semester if it hosts graduate counseling interns who must complete 600 hours apiece.
In addition to counseling staff, trustees spoke about the need for designated “safe rooms” or calming spaces on campuses where students can de-escalate and receive support before returning to class. Several connected the mental-health discussion to broader enrollment trends, noting that schools must feel safe and welcoming if the district hopes to bring back students who left during or after the pandemic.
The board asked Salinas and his team to return at the next regular meeting with an updated plan outlining staffing changes, partnerships and other strategies, along with early progress on shifting counselors back to counseling-focused work.