Two Salem-Keizer high schoolers who now sit on the dais at school board meetings say mental health is the biggest concern they're hearing from peers as the 2026-27 school year approaches.

Jolee McMahan, a senior at South Salem High School, and Alex Diaz, a junior at McKay High School, were sworn in as the district's student advisors at the board's June 9 business meeting. They serve in a non-voting, advisory capacity through June 2027, attending public meetings and bringing student perspectives directly to the board of Oregon's third-largest district.

Both identified mental health as their top priority and technology as their second, according to Salem Reporter on Wednesday, Aug. 12.

The technology concern arrives as the district enforces a new policy banning all electronic mobile devices, including cell phones, during the entire school day. That policy aligns with Gov. Tina Kotek's Executive Order 25-09, signed in February 2025, and takes effect when classes begin Sept. 8 for sixth and ninth graders and Sept. 9 for all other grades.

Mental health under pressure

The students' mental health focus comes at a moment when school-based counseling faces both local budget strain and a federal funding fight. Salem-Keizer's adopted $1.12 billion budget for 2026-27 cut $23 million from the spending needed to maintain current programs, eliminating 120 school-based positions largely through attrition. Superintendent Andrea Castañeda has warned that another $25 million in reductions will likely be needed for 2027-28.

At the state level, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield filed a multistate lawsuit July 10 to block the Trump administration's planned termination of $1 billion in congressionally approved school mental health grants. Those grants placed 14,000 counselors in schools nationwide and served nearly 775,000 students in their first year.

"When a student is having mental health concerns, or is in crisis, they need to have trusted counselors at their school who can help them navigate those tough times," Rayfield said July 10 when announcing the lawsuit.

Who they are

McMahan has attended Salem-Keizer schools for eight years. In her application, she said she wants to ensure students have a voice on issues that are important and impactful to them, according to a district announcement.

Diaz has been in the district for 12 years. He said he will prioritize the voice of students who may not feel comfortable sharing their ideas and believes students should have a say in decisions that affect their education.

Their year on the board coincides with a consequential stretch for the district. Beyond the budget cuts, Salem-Keizer plans to close up to eight elementary schools before 2027-28. A shortlist is expected in October, with the board voting on a final list in December.

The first day of school for grades 6 and 9 is Tuesday, Sept. 8. All other grades start Wednesday, Sept. 9.