By Michelle McKenna
Staff Writer
At the first Manhattan Beach Unified School District Board meeting of the school year on Sept. 7, seniors Jill Thompson and Mackenzie Austin were introduced as the 2011-12 student board members.
Austin and Thompson hope to provide feedback to the board regarding decisions directly affecting Mira Costa. Their opinions and feedback could potentially come into play when the board makes decisions regarding matters such as class scheduling and school activities.
“I don’t mean this negatively, but oftentimes, the school board has taken students’ point of view, but not as seriously as we would like them to,” Austin said. “It’s important for students to get a say in their school career.”
Both Austin and Thompson are active in activities in and outside of school. In addition to being Student Government vice president, Austin is serving as secretary general for Costa’s Model United Nations. She was also selected to attend Girls State, a week-long government program, and Girls Nation, where she met President Barack Obama.
“Jill and I hope to present policies for Costa that will actually come into effect,” Austin said.
Thompson is part of National Honor Society, Soroptomist Women;s Club and School Site Council. She is also the editor-in-chief of “Hoofprints,” the Costa yearbook, and participates in club soccer after school.
“Their leadership will be right for Costa,” Activities Director Lisa Claypoole said.
At the meeting, Austin and Thompson reported on the first week of school, where they discussed issues such as scheduling discrepancies, and how students are adjusted to their school routines. Austin and Thompson report on elementary school events as well as Costa events.
“We are trying to come up with a certain issue that we would like to change or institute at Costa,” Thompson said. “We’ve talked with Student Government and some people around the school. This way, we’re getting more student opinion, rather than just saying, ‘Here’s what’s going on at Costa.’”
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