Several scholars in business-casual attire shuffle towards the microphone to address the school board. Clearly nervous, the first speaks. Instantly, the room fills with the potency and urgency of her message. One after another in perfect orchestration and flawless oration, members of KCMSD's district-wide student government -- now completing its first year of existence -- step to the mic to share a piece of the larger story. Before taking their seats, they share these priorities:

Schedule

• Daily schedule for high school shouldn't start till after 8am; 7:10am is too early and contradicts national research concerning high school start times.
• Annual schedule should be adjusted such that the first semester ends before Christmas break, not after. Having it split in two by Christmas break promotes non-retention of material that is then tested on immediately after returning.
• A winter term -- of similar design to the summer term -- should be considered.
  

Disruptions

• Disruptions in class by tardies can be reduced by having later school start times.
• Electronic disruptions can be reduced by enforcing existing policies concerning student possession of electronic devices in classrooms.
  
• Violent disruptions can be reduced by sponsoring extracurricular activities such as boxing, wrestling, forensics, chess, model UN and drama. Where students desire to learn, the school district should provide support.
  

School environment

• Food service needs to be improved to include more choices such as salad bars, more fruit and pasta bars.
• Cleanliness can be improved by allowing a disciplinary alternative: instead of being suspended for minor offenses, have student perform custodial work to clean facilities
• Incentives/rewards should be provided for students that are doing excellently in the areas of grades/behavior/attendance. These might range from longer trips to Washington DC to day trips to St. Louis Arch, Lewis & Clark Trails or Cahokia.

It's difficult to know where to begin in response to such a list. Perhaps the most obvious observation is that this district is comprised of remarkable scholars that have the intellect, creativity, curiosity, discipline and drive to learn to high expectations -- and in this case to demand that the adults involved step up to our obligations to ensure that this happens. Also obvious is the wise, research-based nature of their concerns. I could go on and on but suffice to say: it was a breath-taking presentation.

Having been the school board member present at all of the meetings of this group, I can assure you that the adults didn't run this group (the student government meetings are for, by and about scholars so adults have to sit in a different corner, can only speak if called upon by the student serving as presiding officer and, on three different occasions, the adults were politely instructed to leave the meetings entirely). When these scholars return to the school board to demand that a representative from their group be appointed to serve as an ex-oficio member of the school board itself, my vote will be YES!

Labels: KCMSD, What's Working