Student Representative Report

PPS Student Representative Henry Li submitted the following report to the board for the 11/29/11 meeting:

Even though the turnout at our second, November 17th Student Union meeting was 17 students instead of last time’s 26, our group is still coming along! The students who couldn’t make it truly had something else going on, and even though we didn’t have physical representation from two high schools at the meeting, the good news is that I have been communicating and sharing ideas with assigned representatives from every traditional high school in the school district and six alternative schools. Most of those who were absent have promised to be at the next meeting, and everybody is optimistic at the progress we’ve already made.

At the meeting, we made several important decisions. The Student Union will meet biweekly alternating Thursdays and Wednesdays now instead of once every month, giving us more time to get things done. We also made a final list of our “deep-dive” topics. They are: 1) revising money allocation in schools, 2) racial equity, 3) challenging classes that aren’t AP or IB, and 4) YouthPass. Because of the looming budget season, the money allocation topic will probably be the first we focus on. An example of why students are interested in this particular topic is that at Lincoln, a brand-new sports field was recently installed using money that students feel could have been better used elsewhere.

We welcomed PPS guest speakers who talked about the new EdBox gradebook program.  Students expressed how useful the new tool is but also their frustration when teachers failed to upload grades in a timely or regular fashion. This is one area they would like to see improvement in.  We all would love to see unnecessary, wasteful, and expensive progress report mailers eliminated with more consistent and frequent usage of the EdBox program. More than half our teachers don’t even have grades on progress reports anyway. Students were also excited when EdBox staff mentioned more research into how assignments not turned in – given zeroes – could have a more fair and equal weight in the grade calculation process.

Schools with only one representative on the Student Union will automatically have that one representative on SuperSAC, the first meeting of which will be December 5th at Jefferson High School. Some schools reached a consensus as to which of their reps would be on SuperSAC, and other schools will campaign for an upcoming email election. Personally, I am thrilled that SuperSAC is once again meeting regularly with the Superintendent.

The Student Union held a forum for former Marshall students on November 16 th in the Marshall High School library. Even though those who came don’t necessarily speak for every Marshall student, the stories that they shared require the full attention of the district.

Students talked about massive changes in friendship circles and their old lives, and how emotional they still felt. But these changes, no matter how poignant, aren’t really surprises. What are surprises are some aspects of the transition. Students related how, at both Madison and Franklin, TriMet buses were the main way for students to get to their new schools. The buses are so packed that some have to wait for two or three more buses to come before they can arrive at school or home. Some students who live closer to Franklin have to attend Madison instead, and vice versa – because the school district apparently transferred students to their new schools by cohorts: Renaissance Arts, BizTech, etc. The SUN program at Marshall transferred to Franklin, and not to both schools. And at Franklin, students described crowded conditions such that students must sit on windowsills in class. Step-Up, an academic support program at Madison, is only for freshmen. Students would like to take part in that. Lastly, the YouthPass is critical for some to even show up for class.

I learned that gaining feedback from these students is a process – and not a one-time event. We will definitely be continuing the conversation in the future. An idea we entertained that I personally like was having once-a-month “Marshall Nights” where students can participate in social events with their “old crowd,” and maybe even at their old school.

I came away from the campus wondering when the computers, hardware, and other resources lying unused could be worked into the high school system. I also wondered, assuming a new facilities bond passes, what would happen to the students of a school being upgraded. I heard there was a possibility they would be sent to Marshall. If that’s true, I hope Madison and Franklin are not the schools being upgraded first.

Through it all, I am very appreciative of how supportive the district is of student voice this year.

Our student group was thrilled to hear we would be having representation on the Long Range Facilities Committee as well as the teacher evaluation committee – both thanks to Superintendent Smith. Thanks also to Lincoln Principal Peyton Chapman for volunteering to be our “principal liaison” this year!

I still hope that through whatever mechanism we end up with, student ideas are heard and taken seriously. EdBox replacing progress reports and having once-a-month “Marshall Nights” are both ideas that I find fantastic, and I hope something becomes of them and other ideas I’ll be bringing in the future. Is there another committee we can have representation on? Just a thought.

Last, but not least, I want to personally thank Ms.Huson for designing a new website for the PPS Student Union and SuperSAC. And thanks to everyone else for helping us get on our feet.

Henry Li