Warren touts Gold Star counseling model, urges support for SB 36 to increase counselor‑student time

Laura Buckright, the district’s director of college and career readiness, described Warren’s comprehensive school counseling work and asked legislators to support Senate Bill 36, which the district said would align counselor time with the national model.

Buckright said Warren has 39 school counselors and an average counselor‑to‑student caseload of about 325:1—lower than the state average she cited (~600:1). She said the district’s Gold Star recognition required extensive data collection, action plans at each building and advisory councils that include students, staff and community members.

The proposed legislation (SB 36) would set a clearer requirement that counselors spend a large portion of their time on direct and indirect counseling services rather than administrative tasks. Buckright said that “when counselors have the tools and the time to address academic, behavioral, and attendance challenges, our students thrive,” and tied counselor‑time changes to improved attendance and lower discipline referrals in Warren.

Why it matters: Warren framed counselor access as an equity and early‑intervention tool, saying more counselor time for students reduces later crises, improves attendance and supports academic outcomes.

Next steps: District leaders asked legislators to consider SB 36 and to fund or support measures that increase counselors' capacity to provide direct services.