BATON ROUGE (AP) — Public school counselors say their education role would be radically diminished or even eliminated under a plan by state Superintendent of Education John White to give local districts more flexibility.

Under current rules, high schools are supposed to have one counselor for every 450 students.

White’s proposal would eliminate that requirement.

The Advocate reported a committee of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will take up the issue on Tuesday.

Cathy Smith, president of the Louisiana School Counselors Association, said counselors play a vital role in assisting students and that abolishing the staffing requirement would hurt the state’s bid to improve public education.

In a statement, White said school districts should be able to use partnerships, vendors, part-time staff and others, along with full-time counselors.

State Superintendent of Education John White. (American Press Archives)

Karen Wink