Schools

Students Take the Reins at District 228 Board Meeting

Teens from all four of the district's high schools participated in an annual student run meeting. Read on to see what they talked about.

students got a taste this week of a "night in the life" of a board member.

Teens from all four of the district's high schools—, , and — for board members and district staff in an annual student-run meeting. Participants presented agenda items, discussed topics and cast votes just as the typical board would do.

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Bremen High School senior Laura Gonzalez led the meeting, acting as board president Deborah Stearns. She called it to order, initiated votes, presented awards and introduced guests with the aplomb of a seasoned veteran.

“I'm glad to do this, to make my school proud of me, to make my principal proud of me,” Gonzalez said. “I just hope I did a good job and my school is proud of me.”

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Students addressed six different topics that the board discussed earlier this year. Although the issues weren't new, the point of view—that of the students—was.

“This (meeting) is a an opportunity to hear from the most important people in our district—the students,” Superintendent Bill Kendall said.

The students tackled ACT prep, loss of privileges and even legislative issues.

Loss of privileges was a hot topic. The regular board heard Nov. 15 from Bremen High School teacher Michele Jurgens and teacher Wendy Podbielniak about the issue, which relates to alternative punishments for students. For instance, instead of sending a high schooler to detention, administrators may ban them from school activities like football games or dances.

senior Antonio Burketh, senior Mike Fortuna, Hillcrest sophomore Patrick McClain and Bremen senior Chanille Woods spoke on behalf of students.

“We've been doing the same thing when it comes to punishment for so long, like detentions, suspensions and things like that,” Fortuna said. “ ... We've come to the conclusion that for some students it works, but for others it doesn't.”

Burketh said that instead of punishment, there should be some sort of incentive program for those students who stay out of trouble. 

Stearns asked the students if meeting and working with their peers was an eye-opening experience. They told her the meeting went as they expected—All of the students shared similar view points about how to improve the district.

Other student participants included:

Jamilah Grady, Danielle Stec, Laquinta Moy, Shean Lubaton, Kendra Sowa, Carlye Arden, Kevin Mell, Laura Gonzalez, D’jon Meek, Henry Czajkowski, Christina Bravo, Hope Liddell, Thomas Rodriguez, Danielle Dougherty, Alia Jameson, Mercedes Young, and Quinn Johnson.


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