Concerns have been raised about the disparities in student safety in Sonoma Valley

The share of Sonoma and Creekside high school students who selected 4 or 5 on the scale increased from December 2019 to January 2024 from 36% to 41% in engagement, 16% from 14% in culture and 24% from 17% in terms of study and career readiness, while it has dropped from 37% to 33% when it comes to connection and collaboration with colleagues, and from 28% to 26% when it comes to relationships.

Also, 39% of Sonoma Valley and Creekside high school students surveyed in January 2024 agreed or strongly agreed that when they feel upset, stressed or having problems, their school has programs or services that can help them, compared by 22% in January 2022 The share of high school students who strongly agreed or agreed with this item also increased over the period, from 38% to 44%.

“Students at the secondary level have access to a variety of support staff, including counselors, school psychologists and clinical mental health providers,” said Camille Garcia, a social worker for the school district. “School programming has also been expanded to create more awareness around seeking support and how to do so.

“We have empowered student voices to lead the way in creating more school-wide opportunities to destigmatize student mental health and seek help when experiencing challenging situations.”

Winders praised Beall and the district’s wellness centers and staff for the progress made in helping more students feel supported.

“They have put in countless hours and are so dedicated to their work,” Winders said. “We have also had incredible leadership in this work with our superintendent (Jeanette Rodriguez-Chien). She is on campuses, meeting with students and staff, listening to students in empathetic circles and speaking directly to students about their feelings, needs, feedback and ensuring they have a voice and feel heard.

“I think our students see, feel and above all believe that they are important to us and that we see them as whole people. It is a team effort to ensure that our students know and feel how much we care for them.”

The research shows that the proportion of students at El Verano, Flowery, Prestwood and Sassarini primary schools who felt positive (on a scale of 1 to 3, where 1 is positive, 2 is neutral and 3 is negative) was 82% engaged and 42% % in academic field. challenges, 75% in relationships, 21% in culture, 59% in instructional methods and 33% in belonging.

“We are pleased to see students reporting high levels of engagement and relationships,” Beall said. “As an elementary team, we will continue to dig deeper into the areas of culture and belonging, especially around positive connections with peers.”

Beall said the survey also generally shows that elementary, middle and high school students feel happier and more relaxed than in 2023.

“This is important because we know that emotional well-being is closely linked to academic success and overall development,” she said.

Beall said the Youth Truth Survey is valuable because it allows the district to track progress on various measures on an annual basis, thereby identifying areas of strong and necessary growth.

“While having a mechanism to provide anonymous feedback, such as Youth Truth, is an integral part of our improvement process, it is equally useful to provide opportunities for more open feedback through processes such as listening circles,” she said. “They allow for more detailed experiences and thoughts to be expressed, leading to a better understanding of a given individual’s experiences.

“Those individuals are then able to express thoughts and clear ideas about how we can best move forward in a particular area.”

Winders said the district must be accurate, thoughtful, intentional and inclusive in addressing issues of concern.

“You have to do the work carefully and follow up,” she said. “That is the work that is being done and the work that needs to continue. It’s about being honest in the work and being willing to acknowledge when something isn’t working and then fix it, while also making sure we include the voices of those who have historically been left out and have a place got the table.”

Reach the reporter, Dan Johnson, at [email protected].