Survey

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PUBLIC SENTIMENT SURVEY: PCHS REMEDIATION STRATEGY

Commissioned by: Salt Shaker Press

Background: In early 2026, Superintendent Dr. Leatha Williams abolished the traditional high school counselor position. This role was replaced by a "Graduation Coach" to address a lack of certified applicants and persistent errors in student records found during a 2025 state review. This survey seeks your feedback on these structural changes.

Instructions: Please circle the number that best reflects your opinion for each statement.

• 1 = Very Dissatisfied

• 2 = Satisfied

• 3 = Approved

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Section 1: Staffing & Administrative Changes

1. Abolishment of the Certified Position: Replacing the vacant "ghost" counselor position with a non-certified Graduation Coach to ensure the office is staffed. 1 — 2 — 3

2. Certification Flexibility: Using a coach who handles "heavy lifting" (college apps, credit recovery) but lacks RAMP-certified clinical credentials. 1 — 2 — 3

3. Tiered Oversight: The requirement for a County Supervisor of Counseling to provide legal "sign-off" on transcripts and academic plans prepared by the coach. 1 — 2 — 3

4. Data Integrity Protocols: The implementation of "Zero-Inference" rules and mandatory WVEIS training to ensure the accuracy of student transcripts. 1 — 2 — 3

5. Academic Benchmarks: The new mandate that all Personalized Education Plans (PEPs) be completed by mid-January to build the master schedule. 1 — 2 — 3

Section 2: Mental Health & Support Services

6. The "Therapeutic Gap": The decision to offload one-on-one therapy and crisis management to external partners like Youth Health Services (YHS). 1 — 2 — 3

7. Service Frequency: The current schedule where YHS clinicians visit the high school specifically on Wednesdays to provide direct therapy. 1 — 2 — 3

8. The "Warm Handoff": The protocol where a student in distress is referred by the Graduation Coach or Dean to the on-campus YHS "Annex". 1 — 2 — 3

9. Psychiatric Resources: Access to psychiatric evaluations and medication management via tele-health through the YHS contract. 1 — 2 — 3

10. Fiscal Strategy: Using contractual partnerships (ESMH initiative) to provide clinical care without the district employing full-time faculty. 1 — 2 — 3

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Salt Shaker Press Launches Public Sentiment Survey on Pocahontas County High School’s "Graduation Coach" Model

POCAHONTAS COUNTY, WV — Following the controversial 2026 decision by Superintendent Dr. Leatha Williams to formally abolish the traditional high school counselor position, Salt Shaker Press is launching a comprehensive public sentiment survey to gauge community response to the district’s new remediation strategy.

Since September 2024, Pocahontas County High School (PCHS) has operated without a certified counselor, a vacancy that led to a "systemic failure" in maintaining state-mandated counseling programs and transcript accuracy. In response to a "failed market" for certified applicants , the district has transitioned to a "Graduation Coach" model. This role focuses on administrative "heavy lifting"—such as credit recovery and graduation tracking—while offloading clinical mental health duties to external partners.

The Salt Shaker Press survey specifically seeks feedback on:

• The Therapeutic Gap: The reliance on Youth Health Services (YHS) clinicians who are currently on-site only one day per week.

• Administrative Oversight: The new "sign-off" protocol involving a County Supervisor of Counseling to ensure legal compliance with WVBE Policy 2315.

• Data Integrity: Recent "Zero-Inference" rules and WVEIS training mandates designed to correct "intentional errors" in student transcripts identified during the 2025 state review.

• Fiscal Strategy: The use of contract-based "Personal Services" to save on full-time salary and benefit costs.

"The shift from a clinical mental health role to a results-driven academic support role represents a fundamental change in how our students are supported," says the Salt Shaker Press editorial team. "With PCHS having navigated a year-long State of Emergency, it is vital to understand if the community feels these corrective actions truly provide a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).".

Note: Comment on this survey and share with all your contacts. 

List your most serious grievances.