At the beginning of March, the Mira Costa administration hosted the first meeting of the newly-created Principal’s Leadership Council in an attempt to give student leaders a voice in administrative decisions and create more collaboration between student organizations.
This council, which consists of the leaders of Costa’s student organizations, is a step in the right direction for more communication and student representation on campus. However, it does not do enough to adequately address the overwhelming lack of student input on relevant administrative decisions.
In the past, Costa students have not had a chance to contribute to new school policies, such as AP commitment policy changes and remodeling plans. Last year, the administration had teachers and staff vote on a new homeroom period but didn’t solicit substantial student input on the change.
According to a La Vista poll taken last school year, only 14 percent of students felt that they were sufficiently consulted about the addition of homeroom.
Most recently, the administration has not yet gauged student reaction to the possible cancellation of AP Exam review sessions. As these sessions directly impact students, it would be wise to ask the council to provide input on their possible cancellation.
The council currently claims to be an advisory board to the principal, where members can give input on school issues. However, the council has largely been reviewing the school’s events and has generated little discussion on significant issues.
Although this council has not yet provided significant input on issues that affect Costa students, it is still in its infancy and has the potential to be an influential voice for Mira Costa’s student body. In order for the council to have tangible effects on student issues, its focus, as well as the focus of Student Government, must change.
Currently, Student Government in name is the representative body for students but in practice does not have substantial influence on administrative decisions. Instead, the organization’s official focus should be modified to reflect its true nature as a well-organized and effective student activities group rather than a governing body.
However, Mira Costa students still deserve representation, and it should come from this council. The council should be able to discuss and scrutinize changes and present a unified student voice to the administration. The administration could then consider the council’s recommendations.
Additionally, if the council is to become an influential and useful organization for students, it needs to meet more frequently than its current rate of once a month.
Simply meeting for 30 minutes each month does not provide adequate time for council members to express a wide range of opinions.
Currently, the Manhattan Beach Unified School District board has two student representatives who pass along information about student events to the rest of the board. While this practice is informative, it does not present student opinion so much as pure reporting of campus events.
If the council instead selected two members to represent the student body on the school board, and the board allotted time for the members to discuss issues that affect students, students would have much more legitimate representation in the district’s governing body.
Ultimately, the current incarnation of the Principal’s Leadership Council lacks focus on student input. The student body would be better represented by a leadership council that has the influence, time and foresight to give meaningful input on administrative decisions.
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