The Pearl Post

Students must be more involved

Wednesday, December 14, 2011 By

Each month, Daniel Pearl Magnet High School’s (DPMHS) School Site Council (SSC) discusses various school issues, such as the bell schedule, school budget, policies, dress codes and their plan to prevent students from failing. First it should be stressed that the SSC has a grand total of 19 members, four of which are actual students and three of whom are alternates. Eight teachers and seven parents compose the remaining 15 members. The SSC makes consensual decisions based on what majority of its members agree upon. Since the number or students are so few, our voices are rarely ever heard. Second, before the meeting on Oct. 25, there were no students holding official positions on the council. That was until school librarian Tammie Celi resigned as Secretary of the Council and senior Khajika Soyoltulga was nominated by parent Todd Gurvis. Finally, the goal of the SSC is to “(Develop) and (monitor) the Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA),” according to DPMHS’ website. That brings up a very simple question among students. How does an orange beanie affect a student’s achievement? The new hat policy was proposed in an SSC meeting. The policy basically states that from the moment you walk onto school property, you are prohibited from wearing any type of caps/hats other than “approved caps/hats with DPMHS logo” and “logo-free caps/hats in school colors (turquoise,black or white).” Natuarally this angers many students. In order to get our voices heard as students we have to increase regular attendance at these meetings. Like anything else in life, we shouldn’t complain if we didn’t do anything to stop it. If we feel that baseball caps or plain beanies do no harm to the progress the school is making, then tell that to the people who make these rules. As a student body, it is important for us to make the decisions that directly impact us. The SSC meets once a month on a select Tuesday from 5:30-7:00 pm. To become a member, in theory, all you need to do is show up. You will be elected onto the council after you are nominated, then seconded. From that point forward you will be able to provide valid input in the interests of your fellow students. The more students on the school site council, the more powerful our collective voices will be.