Three students outline plans on mental health, safety and student voice at Charles County SMOB town hall

Charles County Public Schools student‑member‑of‑the‑board candidates Riley Mullican, Munachi Obinawa and Zoe Pumatis laid out competing priorities at a moderated town hall, emphasizing ways to amplify student voice, expand mental‑health resources and improve safety across the district.

Riley Mullican, a sophomore at Maurice J. McDonough High School, said she was inspired to run after seeing the current student member visit her school. “I saw how much a student voice can really impact our community and county,” Mullican said, describing how earlier student‑government experience led her to seek the position.

Incumbent Munachi Obinawa, a junior at La Plata High School, said she is seeking re‑election after a year in the role because she found advocacy “very, very fulfilling” and could make an immediate difference for students. Obinawa described outreach already in use for her office: “I hosted a virtual student forum, and that allowed me to hear from about, I think, a 100 students,” she said, citing use of social media and virtual events to gather input.

Zoe Pumatis, a junior at Maurice J. McDonough High School, emphasized countywide student councils and one‑on‑one conversations, and said she would create advisory councils and forms to ensure students without social media can still contribute.

On mental health, candidates recommended a mix of immediate, low‑cost steps and longer‑term staffing changes. Multiple candidates called for more counselors in schools where feasible and urged small‑group meetings or workshops to address student burnout. Several also said community events and student workshops can provide faster opportunities for students to connect while the district addresses hiring and budget constraints.

School safety and bullying were frequent topics. Candidates proposed clearer anonymous reporting, early intervention for students who bully, restorative‑justice approaches and broader student‑resource‑officer coverage so a first responder is available at more schools. Munachi Obinawa encouraged students to use public forums and board meetings to hold leaders accountable and to make change.

All three candidates stressed outreach strategies to broaden participation beyond a single student representative. Proposed methods included Instagram surveys, countywide forms, school visits, monthly advisory‑council reports from multiple schools and using the Charles County Association of Student Councils to surface issues from every school.

The candidates also discussed specific projects and priorities they have pursued or would pursue if elected, including a “better bathrooms” student‑led campaign, youth empowerment workshops and expanded club and service opportunities to boost morale and engagement. They urged transparency about what a student member can and cannot accomplish while pledging to represent diverse student perspectives.

The town hall was moderated by co‑moderators Elizabeth Tober and Mackenzie Pollard. The event closed with no formal board action or votes; it served as an opportunity for voters to compare the candidates’ approaches ahead of the student‑member election.

Next steps: voters will decide in the scheduled election (date not specified during the forum).