Six months after its creation, a student advisory group wants to give students a stronger permanent voice in the management of St. Paul Public Schools.
In a presentation to the school board Tuesday, members of the Student Engagement and Advisory Board said they should get the power to vote alongside elected school board members. They also want to interview candidates for the next superintendent vacancy and the power to replace the staff facilitator who communicates with the student board.
The advisory board also will begin meeting more often, three times a month, in order to get more done. That change, and the associated increase in cost for supporting the 13-member team, is in the school board’s preliminary 2016-17 budget.
Empowering a student with voting authority is a long shot and would require a change in state statute. The students suggested they take turns attending school board meetings, sharing a single vote among their peers.
School board members Tuesday said such a rotation might inadvertently weaken student voice because the students wouldn’t have time to understand the issues or develop relationships with board members.
“My concern is that the lack of consistency might end up … in a weaker voice for students,” Steve Marchese said.
Central High School junior Ruby Sutton said the rotation would ensure a variety of schools and student experiences are represented.
Board member Jean O’Connell said that at the least, the school board should write a policy that establishes the advisory board’s place in the district and sets expectations for their work.
The students also asked that the school board give clearer instructions when assigning a project and appoint a liaison to improve communication with the students.
In February, the advisory board asked for a number of reforms to the school resource officer program. Students were frustrated with constraints the district placed on their research and a lack of follow-up from school board members.
The 13-member advisory board, all high school students, was appointed in November to give greater voice to issues before the school board.