Demand Student Representation, Assert Your Voice in SGC
By Peggy Scott
Berkleye High Jacket Editorial Board member Chloe Holden writes, “…there is a notable lack of student input into the process, a waste considering that the most acute insights into the [Achievement] gap are most likely to come from students themselves.”
Holden is correct, but the shortage of student input at Berkeley High is an even larger issue, and concerns all areas that fall under the purview of the SGC. The laws of California and the state Education Code specifically state that high school students should comprise 25 percent of the governing structure of their school. Currently, students have only 14 percent, almost half that power, just four out of 28 members on the council. It often feels even worse, because so many alternates and co–lead teachers attend the meetings, which makes the room heavily dominated by teachers.
Further, it is specifically this School Site Council that is tasked with the job of addressing student achievement through the development and annual revision of the school plan. At Berkeley High this plan for student achievement is the WASC plan, but you would be hard pressed to find a revision since 2005, the year it was written. Now read Holden’s quote again; it is astonishing just how right she is.
Further, it is specifically this School Site Council that is tasked with the job of addressing student achievement through the development and annual revision of the school plan. At Berkeley High this plan for student achievement is the WASC plan, but you would be hard pressed to find a revision since 2005, the year it was written. Now read Holden’s quote again; it is astonishing just how right she is.
Currently, the Policy Committee of the School Board is reviewing the governance structure at Berkeley High and we can expect their redesign to be announced this spring. Their charge is to bring the practices of the high school’s governance into compliance with state statutes.
This has been a long battle. The school board has known for at least two years that they needed to overhaul the SGC at Berkeley