By: Donovan W. Mann – donovanm@977thebolt.com
Humboldt, IA – The Humboldt Community School District is looking into adding two high schools students to the board of education.
Recent discussions between the school board and Superintendent of Schools Jim Murray have led to the processes of adding student representatives to the board. Murray talks about the decision and process more with KHBT.
The idea was first brought up during a work shop with the board and superintendent. Murray says that it “actually occurred during my goals session when we were working with the school board members.” While they worked to develop a vision for leadership in the district highly regarded educator and former head of the Prairie Lake Area Education Agency Jeff Herzberg brought the idea forward. He told the board and Murray that he has seen students on the school board before in his own experiences.
The schools leadership agreed that they would pursue the opportunity starting this year. Murray says “our school board was very intrigued with the idea of doing so.” The superintendent also says he was very interested as well because he’s a “huge proponent of shared leadership.” There is currently an application process available to student. The students would be nonvoting members but would provide valuable input.
The application process requires the students to answer a couple of essay question about school system betterment. Murray says the essays are less about grammar and spelling and more about ideas. Interested students are also required to get a letter of recommendation from a high school faculty member.
The board will be looking to add one freshman or sophomore and one junior or senior. Applications are due by Friday, Oct. 23 and that following Monday during the school board meeting the board will discuss it further. The superintendent says he hopes to have a couple of students on the board by their November meeting.
Murray says that there is a big value to adding students to their school board. “The students experience the everyday life.” He says that as the superintendent he can be visible at the schools and does works closely with leadership. The board can hear reports about what is happening as well. However, the student perspective is needed according to Murray. This way the leadership can have better representation on the daily life in the schools and how it can be better improved.
If the board chooses to go forward with adding student members it would be a one year position that ends in June 2021. If the board chooses to keep student board members applications will be sent out again to add two students to the board again for 2021-22 school year. Reapplication for a second term is allowed.
KHBT will report more details on students being added to the local school board when they become available.