North Marion student urges board to act on mental health; trustees pledge attention

Colton Hughes, a student at North Marion High School, urged the Marion County School Board on Jan. 27 to fund a mental-health awareness program or a student-driven day of recognition modeled on the district’s Drive for Life campaign.

“Mental health kills students in Marion County,” Hughes said during public comment, and he asked the board to “fund a program or a day of awareness to help students” and to act before more lives are lost.

Why it mattered: Hughes framed his request as a student-driven initiative linked to peer support and awareness; he referenced a local statistic cited to Mayor Ben Marciano that “1 in 4 people have been people have mental health issues,” and said the district should treat mental-health outreach with urgency.

Board response: Several trustees thanked Hughes and flagged district resources and upcoming recognition for school counselors. Interim Superintendent Dr. Danielle Brewer noted that the district will recognize school counselors next week and that counselors “work through mental health concerns with our students.” Board members suggested exploring student-led initiatives and community-based approaches, with Chair and trustees offering to follow up with district staff on possibilities for student-created programs modeled on Drive for Life.

Action and next steps: The board did not adopt a new program or funding during the meeting. Trustees signaled support for further conversation and for an approach that centers student leadership; staff were asked to accept student input and to report back through appropriate administrative channels.