Sometimes You Have To Prod The Powers That Be

Sat., June 17, 2000

Danyll Van Lierop Special To Opinion

The Spokane Stand For Children chapter is an organization dedicated to making positive changes for our community’s children and helping to ensure that all children can grow up healthy, educated and safe.

One of our most important issues is pushing for more counselors in elementary schools. Through research, our organization discovered that the Central Valley School District is inadequately staffing its elementary schools with school counselors, compared to the other districts in the Spokane area.

In a time when school violence and a host of other maladaptive behaviors are apparent in some younger children, the Central Valley schools have elected to have only half-time counselors in 10 of their 14 elementary schools. These half-time counselors divide their time between two schools and serve up to 919 students each. Research is clear that the best way to stem the tide of school failure, violence and failure later in life is early prevention and intervention. That is the role of a school counselor.

Recently, our organization invited Central Valley School Board members and administrators to a community forum on the issue of elementary school counselors. More than 120 concerned citizens attended but not one representative of the Central Valley School Board or administration showed up. I’ve been involved in child advocacy and public policy issues for more than five years. This was the most disappointed I have felt in a long time regarding the lack of accountability by those claiming to care for the best interests of our children.

After they made a choice not to attend the forum, we showed up at their next board meeting, sharing four possible funding sources for the additional counselors. Yes, we did their homework for them. We also presented petitions with almost 400 signatures stating this should be the district’s priority. Several people stood before the board to share from the heart how this issue has touched their lives. We are scheduled to meet again June 22 with school administrators. We hope this meeting will result in more than lip service.

Through Stand For Children, I and others will continue to fight for our children and our schools. I emphasize, they are our schools. I hope the board will finally listen to the people who elected them and make school counselors a priority for our children.

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