When Mahomet Seymour High School Principal Shannon Cheek wants to know what improvements can be made in his school, he turns to the people who know best: his students.
The Principal’s Advisory Council, which started last year, provides students with the opportunity to share ideas, offer suggestions and discuss concerns, said Cheek. Any MSHS student can apply to be a part of the council. This year, there are 18 members who meet about once a month.
One of the members is Brooks Davis, a senior. He said the reason for wanting to be on the council was a matter of school pride. “I have pride in my school. I wanted to make a difference and leave an impact,” he said.
In fact, members on the council, proudly speak about the legacy the projects they spearheaded will leave long after they graduate.
“We are taking a step,” said senior Nathan DeHaan. “We are not just complaining about something, but we are making our school a better place.”
Students who want to be a part of the council must apply, and part of the application is to write an essay of 300 words or less explaining what would make them a good representative, said Cheek. Cheek gathers the essays, blacks out student names and forwards the essays on to the department heads. Those faculty members rank the essays based on reasons why a student wants to be a part of the council. Cheek said he wants at least two members from each grade level. Last year, the council consisted of nine members. This year’s council is double that, with any members from last year given the opportunity to stay on for another term.
The council is made up of students from all walks of life.
“It’s a wide range of students,” said Cheek, noting there are students who are involved in multiple activities and those for whom this is their only extracurricular activity.
Senior Andrew Johnson said he feels the diverse nature of the group members helps to impact more students.
Cheek said he started the council last year with two purposes in mind. “I wanted to provide students with the opportunity to participate in a professional forum, to be exposed to professional meetings, and to form leadership skills.” The second purpose, Cheek said was “to give students a voice. This is your school. I wanted to give students a forum to express themselves.”
Having a voice within the school resonates with the students. Cheek said one essay this year was from an incoming freshman who said she wanted to join the council because she wanted to feel like she had a voice within her school and feel like she was a part of something. She didn’t feel like she had that before, Cheek added.
DeHaan said having a voice in his school also attracted him to become a council member.
“One of the aspects the council provides is students can voice an opinion and it can reach a higher level of authority. Students can take their opinions to the next level,” DeHaun said.
“It’s a neat opportunity to talk with administration about student issues and goals,” added Johnson.
What are some things the council has accomplished? Cheek made note of two accomplishments from last year that carried over to this school year.
Last year, students voiced concern the equipment in the school’s weight room wasn’t being properly cared for after use.
“Our weight room was disgusting,” Cheek said. The council took this issue on and decided it could be simply solved by making sanitary wipes available and educating coaches and athletes about how to wipe down equipment following use. That practice is still enforced this year, and the students agree the weight room is a much cleaner place.
The other issue tackled last year was a recycling program. Students called for a recycling program and the council decided to start with paper.
“It was amazing how much paper we generate,” Cheek noted. In fact, as a result of the students request to recycle, Cheek said he no longer has a computer printer in his office. Having to walk down the hallway to retrieve a printed document is enough to make him question if he really needs to print an item or not.
Having successfully tackled two issues last year has motivated this year’s council. Cheek and other members acknowledge they are early in the process for deciding what to tackle this year, but issues the students want to look at are creating some sort of orientation program for incoming freshman and a welcoming committee for students who move in mid-year. A tutoring program that students can sign up for on-line also has been mentioned.
Johnson talked about how students can support fellow Bulldogs who have experiences some sort of loss during the school year by a grief response team. And DeHaun mentioned beautification of the school’s entry way has been brought up.
“I want to come back in 5 or 6 years and say ‘I had a part in doing this’,” he said.
“The council has generated many wonderful ideas,” said Cheek. He added he wants to see what they can accomplish. “We need to choose wisely.”
Cheek said the council meeting minutes are shared at faculty meetings so staff are aware of student thoughts and concerns. And students feel like they have a voice in their school.
The council “allows us to account for what everyone in the school thinks,” Johnson said.
Another consequence of the council was an improvement in school culture. Students feel like they are making a difference by recycling. The school is saving money and resources by doing so.
Individual council members are getting something out it the process too.
“I have a sense of satisfaction knowing I’m making a difference for the students,” Davis said. Johnson and DeHaun said they agreed.
Cheek’s original vision that students could benefit from participate in adult meetings and have a voice in the process has come true. But other than a sense of school pride and helping others, what else do students get out of a 7 a.m. monthly meeting?
“Doughnuts and orange juice,” Davis said with a laugh. His fellow seniors agreed.
DeHaun said he appreciates the Principal’s Advisory Council’s open forum with a lot of back and forth conversation. He called the group “relaxed and inspired.”
And Cheek, who attends his fair share of meetings throughout the course of the school year said “I look forward to these meetings.”
Members of the 2015-16 Principal’s Council are
Nathan DeHaan
Brooks Davis
Laura Ledin
Andrew Johnson
Kylie Lenschow
Kelly Maloney
Natalie Jacobi
Grace Beach
Noah Park
Mia Epley
Kelly Trevillian
Laurel Roney
Kobe Partlow
Kayle Becker
Gracie Davis
Dayiah Caldwell
Emma Amjad
Trinity Reeves
