Seattle students demand more mental health resources, funding for schools

SEATTLE — Some Seattle Public School (SPS) students took school safety and mental health concerns to the Seattle City Council Budget meeting Tuesday.

Members of the Seattle Student Union members are advocating for additional mental health funding at Seattle schools. A group of students shared their experiences and concerns during the public comment period at Tuesday night’s meeting.

“We are demanding $20 million for mental health resources in high schools throughout the Seattle area. Mental health resources have been evidentiary necessary for students in this day and age, which is why we need funding to implement mental health resources students can access,” said Fatra Hussein a junior at Franklin High School at the Seattle City Council meeting.

“You all have the ability and the responsibility to change all of this by fully funding our mental health resources at our schools,” said Leo Falit-Baiamonte, at the Seattle City Council meeting.

Both Hussein and Falit-Baiamonte serve as executive board members on the Seattle Student Union.

Falit-Baiamonte, a sophomore at Nathan Hale told KOMO News the group believes Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell’s proposed budget which includes more than $19 million for school safety measures and mental health resources is not enough.

“Nineteen million dollars is not a lot in any way shape or form and we need to know where this money is going,” Falit-Baiamonte said. “We need an increase of money for in-school counselors, and we need a voice at the table.”

He said the Seattle Student Union thinks a youth city council or youth advisory board would give students a seat at the table, a voice in the process and create transparency. Students also want to know if funding will be renewed.

“Grieving and trauma doesn’t last one week, it lasts years. We don’t need one week of care, we need constant care in our schools and constant health resources to talk about whatever, shootings and everyday life,” Falit-Baiamonte said. “Students aren’t able to find the care they need; some don’t even know a therapist exists and still many therapists are overbooked.”

The calls for change and more resources began two years ago when a Seattle student was shot and killed inside Ingraham High School. The shooting followed a fight in the boy’s bathroom during school hours.

On Friday, a couple of dozen students walked out of class at Ingraham High School on the two-year anniversary of that deadly shooting and demanded more security measures and access to mental health counselors inside their school.

Students who participated in the walkout told KOMO News they also want the school to install a buzzer system to keep entrance doors locked and visitors out during school hours.

The boy who shot and killed 17-year-old Ebenezer Haile in 2022 pled guilty in June to three separate charges including first-degree murder. He was 14 years old at the time of the shooting. After entering his plea, he was immediately sentenced to juvenile detention until he turns 21 with no chance of early release.

In August, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell initially announced more than $14.5 million for more counselors, on-campus security, and a Seattle police presence around the schools seeing the highest rates of violence.

The funding also came after Garfield High School student 17-year-old Amarr Murphy-Paine was fatally shot in June. Witnesses said he was reportedly trying to break up a fight when he was shot outside the school during lunch break. So far, police have not made any arrests for his murder. Seattle police continue to ask witnesses to call their Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000.

On Friday, SPS responded with a statement after KOMO News reached out about student concerns at Ingraham High:

Seattle Public Schools (SPS) is committed more than ever to student wellbeing. We acknowledge that today, the two-year anniversary of the shooting at Ingraham High School, is difficult for students, staff, and the community, which is why SPS is continuing to prioritize the mental health and safety of our students.

District leaders always want students and staff to feel safe and supported while on and around campus. Ingraham High School locks and Aiphones (buzzer system) are all updated and installed. The district is working diligently with Ingraham school leaders to coordinate the staffing needed to supervise all Aiphone entrances to ensure the campus remains as secure as possible.

Ingraham received $1 million in grants to provide safety services and mental health supports for students and staff. SPS recently partnered with the City of Seattle to expand mental health supports for SPS students. We are actively finalizing the implementation of the plan that includes hiring additional mental health counselors and care coordinators and expanding access to telehealth therapy services.

KOMO News is working to find out how many counselors have been hired and how many are dedicated to Ingraham and other schools.