We, the parents, educators, and community members of Jefferson County, are calling on the Jefferson County Board of Education and Superintendent Brian Yearwood to reject proposed cuts to school-based mental health practitioners in the 2026–27 JCPS budget.

These proposed reductions are not just budget line items—they are the difference between stability and crisis for thousands of our students. At a time when children face increasing challenges from trauma, poverty, school shootings, and mental health struggles, cutting access to the professionals who support their well-being is not just shortsighted—it’s dangerous.

These mental health practitioners are lifelines. They are often the only support system some students have. As JCPS employee Halle Dizdarevic powerfully stated, “Mental health and safety are a prerequisite to learning.” Removing these positions disproportionately affects our most vulnerable students, including those with special needs and from low-income families, who cannot access services elsewhere.

Parents, staff, and principals from across the district have spoken in fierce, unified opposition. Their concerns go beyond the cuts themselves—they speak of a lack of transparency and exclusion from the decision-making process. The proposed budget shifts burden away from central office restructuring and places it squarely on the shoulders of our children.

We urge Superintendent Yearwood and the Jefferson County Board of Education to restore funding for school-based mental health practitioners and commit to a more transparent, inclusive budget process moving forward. Vice Chair James Craig and other board members have already taken a stand against these cuts—now we need the full board to follow through and protect what matters most: our students’ ability to learn, thrive, and be well.

Sign this petition to demand that JCPS leaders prioritize student mental health. Let’s show them that their well-being comes first.