Peabody Budget Cuts Mean Fewer H.S. Guidance Counselors

PEABODY, MA -- Peabody Veterans Memorial High School will not hire a replacement for a retiring guidance counselor in what appears to be the first major impact of a $6.2 million budget cut approved by the school committee this spring. The school sent a notice to parents and students this week saying that students who had been assigned to Linda Mitchell will be reassigned to other guidance counselors.

"This will add to the work load yet again and negatively impact all of the students, especially seniors who need help with the college process," one parent posted in Moving peabody Forward, a closed Facebook group for Peabody residents. "My incoming senior has already had 4 guidance counselors in 3 years. When will Peabody start prioritizing education?"

Patch has reached out to school officials and will update this story if they get back to us with comment. Other parents posting on the Facebook group reported similar problems with students having multiple guidance counselor assignments during their four years at the school.

The cut leaves Peabody Veterans Memorial High School with six to serve approximately 1,600 students, or 267 students per guidance counselor, according to the school system's Web site. The American School Counselor Association considers a ratio of 250 students to each counselor to be “optimal." Statewide, the ratio was 423 students to every guidance counselor, according to a 2015 report by ASCA.

In May the Peabody School Committee approved a $6.2 million budget cut for the 2018-19 school year. The budget cuts 10 classroom positions, as well as $500,000 for supplies. The budget cuts also eliminate five teachers aides, a custodian and a guidance counselor.

Last month, Peabody teachers agreed to a three-year contract that gives them a 2% raise. As school wound down for the year in June, teachers protested budget cuts and the stalemate in the contract talks by refusing to perform any duties outside of those explicitly stated in their contract.

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Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).