The definition of an ASB advisor is someone who acts as a liaison to the faculty, administration, student body and community in matters relating to ASB, as well as the principal/school administrator and staff apprised of the organization's activities. The ASB advisor should mainly oversee students doing the tasks as an integral part of ASB is for students to gain hands on business and governance experience.

ASB Advisors should fulfill the following roles:

1. Providing guidance and direction to students, making them feel comfortable in expressing their opinions without judgement.
2. Permitting the organization to be predominantly student-led, except in cases where the proposed ideas are not feasible to implement.
3. Providing students with honest information about what can and cannot be accomplished, enabling them to make informed decisions  for the rest of the student body.
4. Ensuring that all students are treated fairly and given equal opportunities and consequences, regardless of personal biases.
5. Taking proactive steps to implement the ideals, decisions, and events established by the ASB, ensuring that these plans are actively put into practice and effectively executed

Our current ASB Advisor has violated all of the principals above:

1. Mr. Mercado has created an environment that is quite the opposite of one where students feel comfortable expressing their opinions without judgment. Students are unable to share their ideas and opinions without facing criticism or, worse, being denied the opportunity to speak at all. On multiple occasions, students have raised their hands only to be met with anger, as Mr. Mercado interprets this gesture as an interruption. His angry behavior has instilled fear in students, leading them to refrain from speaking up in class. ASB students, who are typically known for being energetic, social, and involved, have been significantly impacted by Mr. Mercado's role as an advisor. This has resulted in a noticeable change in their demeanor, as they now dread attending his class and are even considering leaving due to the discomfort and sense of being bullied that they experience on a day-to-day basis.
2. ASB is supposed to be a student-led organization. John Mercado is simply an obstacle when it comes to achieving this. He has managed to create an environment where students are constantly put down for their ideas, and has enabled the Associated Student Body to be practically dominated by the decisions of administrators and staff, rather than those of students. As stated in the ASB Constitution, it is the job of the Spirit Commissioners of ASB to choose the spirit days and lunchtime activities each month. Mr. Mercado was not happy with the choices for the spirit days made by the students. Instead of seeking new proposals from the students, he abruptly removed the decision-making power from them without prior notice, and granted it to administrators and staff. This decision undermines the core principles of ASB being a student-led organization.    
3. Honesty is a fundamental principle of ASB, and a lack of transparency, particularly from an advisor, can be detrimental. Mr. Mercado has demonstrated several instances of not being fully truthful with his ASB students. For example, during registration, Spirit and other ASB members wanted to play music and wear spirited attire to help welcome students, especially freshmen. However, Mr. Mercado informed ASB and Spirit that these activities were prohibited. When us students later consulted the principal, we were told that such activities were indeed permissible. Additionally, Mr. Mercado misled us regarding complaints about microphone use during registration; after speaking with the staff, we learned that there were no issues. These instances reflect poorly on ASB and its commitment to honesty. As an ASB advisor, the role should be to support and encourage ASB members in promoting school spirit, but Mr. Mercado's actions seem to contravene this goal, serving his own interests instead.
4. For the past two years, Mr. Mercado has seemed to target a few students based on his own personal biases. Many student leaders in ASB are very vocal about their opinions, but always in a respectful manner. However, when they disagree with Mr. Mercado, they are met with hostility.          
         For instance, a student last year who was very passionate about spirit and senior events was frequently interrupted by Mr. Mercado or not given the opportunity to speak at all. On many occasions, he would even publicly humiliate, or yell at her in front of the entire class.                                             
          In another instance, a current student who has been in ASB for two years constantly faces unnecessary anger from Mr. Mercado. In an attempt to simply express their opinions, which they have the right to do, this student continues to face mistreatment from Mr. Mercado. Mr. Mercado has targeted this student numerous times, making them feel bullied. Students should not feel as though they are being degraded in an ASB setting. This behavior also subjects the student to bullying by their peers, as the actions that Mr. Mercado takes are quite humiliating. Due to Mr. Mercado's anger towards students, many are fearful and hesitate to speak to him.   
         Finally, last year our ASB executive board faced an issue where a fellow ASB student got into some sort of trouble. Mr. Mercado decided to involve the executive board students in the decision to keep or remove this student. While it is understood that he may have wanted to have a formal discussion and vote on the matter, students felt very uncomfortable voting out a fellow classmate and friend. As an advisor, he could have informed the board and presidents about the situation and sought their opinions, but ultimately, it is not the students' responsibility to decide on the consequences. This decision should be made by the staff and principal, not the students.
5. As an ASB advisor, it is imperative that you ensure all events and activities involving ASB students proceed smoothly. Your active involvement and engagement are essential, mirroring the commitment of the students. Many students in our ASB have previously benefited from the guidance of other advisors, whether that was in middle school or high school. Advisors such as Mr. Wells and Mr. Rodney exemplify the ideal behavior of an ASB advisor. They encouraged student involvement by allowing us to take initiative and by supporting our learning process, even when mistakes were made. This fostered our growth as leaders. Additionally, past advisors attended every single game/event that ASB participated in, embodying the spirit of ASB themselves. In contrast, Mr. Mercado has not attended any school games, only appearing at school rallies during school hours. He has also never participated in any sort of spirit days, while previous advisors would fully engage. ASB has always been enthusiastic in promoting school spirit, yet our own advisor does not  make the slightest effort. He instead complains about the student body not being involved. ASB is both an extracurricular activity and a class, requiring a significant time commitment beyond regular school hours. Advisors should be aware of this and should be open to adjusting their schedules accordingly. However, Mr. Mercado does not do this. He leaves students completely alone at events, and when minor mistakes occur, he becomes extremely upset, despite not being present to support us in the first place.

  It is our goal through this petition to articulate the idea that our current ASB Advisor, John Mercado, is not adequately meeting the needs of the position and is falling short in effectively fulfilling the responsibilities required for the job. He has caused students to feel uncomfortable, and has caused parents to feel concerned regarding the mental health/wellbeing of their children.