SLCSD Board Study Session July 14, 2026

The Salt Lake City School District Board held a study session on July 14, 2026, focusing on school counseling services, particularly the roles, responsibilities, and staffing ratios of counselors across elementary, middle, and high schools. The discussion emphasized challenges related to college and career readiness (CCR) meetings, counselor-to-student ratios, and administrative barriers such as master scheduling and course offerings. Board members expressed concerns about counselors being overburdened, especially in Title I schools, and the impact on students receiving timely CCR meetings. The session included dialogue on recent corrective actions, training for counselors, and the need for a comprehensive needs assessment to inform future staffing decisions. Financial constraints, including a $17 million budget deficit, were noted as significant factors influencing potential changes to counselor staffing levels. The board considered next steps involving analysis of current ratios, cost implications, and prioritization of resources, with plans to revisit these issues in upcoming budget and finance committee discussions.