Students Call for OUSD Board Meeting Reform

Our student fellows have been turned off by the disorder and chaos they see at school board meetings and do not want to take part in the process even though they are aware of how important they are. From a distance, all of this just looks like fighting and adults grandstanding to many of our youth. However, our students want to be part of the process and have created a scaffolded resolution with both low hanging fruit wins and long-term systemic changes. Here is our expanded vision for improving the school board meeting experience for students and families.

A special designation on the speaker card that identifies students and potentially gives them an additional minute or so to speak. This would be a clear indicator that we prioritize student voices.

To be clear, there is already ‘a student box’ that students can check. However, there can be a lack of consistency for how that is utilized. Our call is for those students to be able to not only speak first but also get extended time in the form of an extra minute. In addition to that small, yet significant change, we call on the board and the district to better advertise the opportunity for civic engagement with students.

From our research, one major reason students don’t go to board meetings is that they do not feel that their voices matter in that arena. Here are a few comments:

An event with board members that explains what is happening in our district without the education-wonky speech. Students also stated they would appreciate more of a back and forth so they can ask questions and learn.

Many students feel that the discussions at the board level are inaccessible to average citizens. While students readily admit that running a school district with a budget of more than $750 Million is highly complicated, they feel strongly that our officials should be able to explain complex issues to the people.

One suggestion for this is for school board directors and central office staff to conduct road shows at schools in their respective districts especially when the consequences of decisions will directly impact them and their families. However, this request led to part three of our recommendations. The students wanted to discuss how to retain real power.

Finally, to retain power, our students want to be a voting block. They propose allowing students 16 and up to vote in school board races so they have a real voice moving forward. There is a statewide campaign underway that we are joining.

Through our research, students felt school board reform is a good start but they wanted a way for the end-user to have more power. In reflection, most of our students have never met their school board representative. Many of our students were not aware of who the superintendent of schools was or what that job entailed. Many students did not know what state receivership was or what it could potentially mean. Students began to ask an important question, “How does the end-user get real power?”

Our students want voting power in the school board elections. If the local high school students could vote, we are certain that they would hear from school board members and candidates alike. Picture school board members hosting listening campaigns and town halls for the students in their districts. This is not to say no director currently does this, but none of the 50+ students we work with have experienced this with the frequency they feel they deserve.

Energy Convertors is an organization that focuses on the end-user experience in public education. We believe people must be the leaders of their own liberation. You can learn more at energyconvertors.org. Our community is full of students and families with amazing ideas of how we improve education for everyone currently getting the short end of the stick.