SAB kicks off new school year with pizza and parliamentarian procedures

The Student Advisory Board (SAB) held its first meeting of the new school on Thursday, as student representatives from middle and high schools throughout the Matanuska Susitna Borough School District (MSBSD) met to discuss recent school board actions that have an impact on the students. It also gives them the opportunity to provide input into educational decisions.

The meeting was presided over by SAB President Quin Schachle, who helped introduce the SAB Executive Board members who had been voted in at the end of the last school year, and while the SAB Teacher Advisor was present, the students took the helm, leading and maintaining the meeting agenda.

The SAB also had training on Robert’s Rules, presented by Dr. Reese Everett, Associate Superintendent of the Office of Teaching and Learning.

“As young people interested in leadership, to know why you hear the talk that you might hear at larger groups-the Borough Assembly, the School Board-and the terms they use and better understand how to use Robert’s Rules is going to be important,” said Dr. Everett.

The nearly half-hour long presentation covered a range of terms and items that are typically seen in most parliamentary procedures. It is used by more professional associations, fraternal organizations, and local governments in order to best support orderly and efficient meetings.

“This is more extensive than it was last year,” said Su Valley Jr/Sr High School sophomore Earl Davidson, who has been a student representative since 8th grade.

Dr. Everett explained that using Robert’s Rules is not only important to ensuring orderly meetings, but also to ensure that all members of the governing body or group have equal rights.

“Robert’s Rules ensures that members of governing bodies that have some level of authority to make decisions that impact others, all have equal rights.” He explained the within the context of the SAB, the Executive Board will be the ones representing what the student representatives will bring forward from their schools.

He went on to point out that Robert’s Rules is designed to protect all views, even if they are dissenting points of view from the majority.

“The system is set up to represent all of their views in an equal way to protect members that might disagree with something

This being the first meeting of the new school year, there were no motions or committee reports, the exception being the SAB Representative Ben Kolendo, presented a report of the actions taken by the MSBSD school board, including the passage of several items including the board’s recent grant approvals and requests, noting:

“Grants add significant boosts to our schools’ resources and programs, so these decisions have a real impact on our schools as a community.” Among the recent grant approvals was the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and provides all children in participating schools with a variety of free fresh fruits and vegetables during the school day; and the Perkins V, also known as the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, which provides approximately $1.2 billion in annual funding through State CTE Departments. The FY24 award for MSBSD is $638,110.

He briefly touched on the recent passage of changes to Board Policies 9110 and 9323, the implementation of the AK Reads program, and an update on the design for the new Academy Charter School building.

“All of these decisions are integral to the functioning of our schools. In essence, stay informed about these developments as they are vital for us, the Student Advisory Board, because they directly impact our school community. Together, we can advocate for the best interests of our fellow students.”

On hand from the MSBSD school board was Kathy McCollum, who presented a report, telling the SAB that she was impressed by the number of students involved in the SAB.

“It is just inspiring to see all of these kids together and working for the betterment of our district,” she told the audience.

Davidson said when he first got involved with being a student representative, during his first year, it was just him representing Su Valley, and that he continued on during his freshman year, bringing in others with him.

“We’re here now because there are a lot of things that we want to see handled. You would be surprised at the amount of opinions coming out of Su Valley.” He said that among the items he’s interested in is the divisiveness in political opinions.

“The political opinions that people have, especially between students and teachers, for example, is a large in today’s society, especially in smaller districts that don’t have very much diversity.” He went on to say that it’s important to him that people understand and realize that kids have their own opinions and thoughts about all kinds of issues.

“We see and hear all of the issues, really, and there’s a voice we have as students, and we are paying attention. A lot of changes are being made, and everyone has a voice and everyone should be heard.”

After, the students shared pizzas as they listened to a presentation from Michael Carson from the Mat-Su Opioid Task Force, before adjourning and returning to their respective schools.

The SAB meets once a month, rotating to one of the high schools in the district. For more information, please visit:www.matsuk12.us/sab/home