Staff Editorial: Students currently lack legitimate channels to voice their opinions on major MCHS decision-making

The opinions of Mira Costa students are largely unheard and not considered. If Mira Costa administrators want to create the best academic environment possible, they need to substantially consult student input when making major school decisions.

With new administrative leadership in Superintendant Michael Matthews and Principal Ben Dale, Costa has an opportunity to expand the breadth of student input in decision-making.

Student input was rarely solicited in the recent addition and removal of homeroom, the repeated changing of the standardized testing schedule, and in dramatic alterations to Costa’s attendance policy. This constant shifting of policy has more or less blindsided students.

In addition, an increase in student input could help Costa improve school spirit, a stated goal of the administration. As Mira Costa students, we, the La Vista staff, would find it much easier to take pride in our school if we know that administrators take our input into account when making decisions.

Administrators are right in recognizing the lack of school of spirit, but they shouldn’t expect to be able to correct it without first demonstrating that they value the opinion of their students.

Increased student input could also increase the success of school policies. A sizable group of students participated in focus groups during Mira Costa’s most recent accreditation process. These focus groups contributed valuable ideas that were included in Costa’s plan, and Costa earned the maximum six years of authorization for its educational purposes.

A surefire way to get our foot in the administrative door would be to give students representation on Ed Council.

The Ed Council is arguably the most important administrative body at Mira Costa. At its meetings, Mira Costa policy changes are both proposed and voted on by teachers and administrators. Each school department currently receives one vote, and it was during these meetings that issues like the addition of a homeroom period were decided. If the administration wants to create efficient policies for its school, it should allot one vote to the student body president.

Similarly, the student body currently lacks an effective voice on the district board. The student body vice-president and an additional ASB representative currently attend the district’s biweekly school board meetings, but they merely report on Costa without the ability to offer opinions on board decisions.

Representation of Costa’s diverse students is a problem as well, and while ASB does a very good job organizing many student activities, it does not adequately represent Costa’s student body in a way which promotes broad student input. In an attempt to have diverse representation, student body President Iktae Park has proposed a Leadership Council that would bring together leaders of student organizations and administrators to discuss topics relevant to the student body.

This idea could be expanded on to allow the council to have input in both the school board and Ed Council. Representatives could be chosen from different student organizations, clubs, and groups to ensure a variety of student viewpoints. This council would meet during school hours and discuss relevant issues of the student body, and promote student input as well as campus communication.

The student body president and vice-president would lead the council and convey vital information from their positions on Ed Council and school board to the group. The issues considered in this new council would then be discussed on the agendas of both the Ed Council and school board in order to maintain a continuous outlet for student input.

The students present from each student organization would discuss which ideas should be brought up during school board and Ed Council meetings. Each representative would speak on behalf of the organization that they are representing.

Currently, the only legitimate medium of student input is School Site Council, which discusses the appropriation of the school’s excess funds.

However, as Mira Costa’s budget situation has worsened, the need for the council has been reduced and no longer serves as a valuable form of representation for students.

With proper representation on school board, Ed Council, and a new student council, students would be able to voice concerns and participate in major decisions.