By MATT PIKE
The end of the school year is getting closer, thus moving ever closer to the transition to a two high school model in the St. Joseph School District next year.
To continue preparing for that transition, students that are part of the Superintendents Student Advisory Council are continuing to come up with ideas to make that transition smooth, as well as celebrate some of the outgoing schools.
Superintendent Ashly McGinnis says the group meets once a month, broken up into committees, and says the students have really become the front runners in leading the district's reorganization.
"I think they've been excellent role models in handling change well," McGinnis says on the KFEQmunnity show. "Some of the academic pieces that they were most concerned about were with Lafayette students going to Central, they wanted to make sure that the Top 10 and some of those traditions that are at Lafayette carry over to Central High School, especially for those juniors."
McGinnis says students have given a lot of great ideas, one being a farewell event for Pershing and Eugene Field elementary schools.
"So, with those buildings retiring we are going to honor and recognize them here in May," McGinnis explains. "And then they also came up with another idea of an open house, and so all of our K through 12 buildings will have an open house, also in May, to give any kids who are reassigned to a different building, then they'll have an opportunity to go in, have a tour, kind of get a feel for the building, and meet some of the staff."
McGinnis says most recently the group met and discussed in three different groups
"The first gave feedback on what it should look like to build a culture at a building, so when you take Eugene Field and Pershing and they're going to be together at Roubidoux, how do we create one positive culture within those two groups?" McGinnis says. "The second one that we had was just ideas for the K through 12 open house, so they had different ideas such as being able to have gear, spirit wear for kids who are new, because some of them coming from Lafayette to Central they don't have Central gear, and same thing for Central kids who may be going to Benton."
"They also wanted to have translators there, just to make sure we're being very inclusive of that night."
The third station was more aimed towards the start of the school year and ensuring students come in with a one team positive approach to the new school model.
Students with the advisory council also attended and spoke with the St. Joseph Board of Education during Monday's board meeting.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.