<p>hi
I'm new to the board, but if anyone could give some input that'd be awesome.</p>
<p>I'm researching other models/systems of Student Council groups at other high schools, for my high school - we're trying to create a new student leadership organization.</p>
<p>This is esp for anyone involved in an HS Student Council group, but even you're just familiar with such a student group at your school... could you give a quick description of how your student council works, what it mainly does, and how it connects with the student body? And if you're on the student council, do you think your council is effective, and why? It would really help.</p>
<p>(Former HS students, your responses are also appreciated!)</p>
<p>Hey! Most of the high schools in my school district have Student Government as a course that is offered during the school day. While this is definitely a good way to get participation going, it usually leads to students signing up for Student Government just because they think it'll be an easy elective. My high school also offers StudGov as a course, but differs from the other schools in our district in that it's a zero hour class (meaning it's before school) that meets every Tuesday and Thursday. You'd think that meeting a full hour before school two days a week would dramatically affect participation in the organization, but my h.s. has the biggest Stud Gov in the state (if I'm not mistaken). An added benefit of offering the class at 6:30 a.m. is that the kids who show up generally do so because they really want to be a part of the organization.</p>
<p>Anyway, aside from meeting times and days, our Student Government has a pretty basic structure. Each Class has a president, a v.p., a treasurer and a secretary. Holding the organization together is the executive board, which is composed of the Student Body President, the Student Body VP, the SB Secretary, the SB Treasurer, a SB PR Person (I created this position for next school year), and a SB Parliamentarian (not really used AT ALL). All class positions and the SB Prez and SB VP positions are elected positions, but the rest of the executive board is appointed by the SB prez. Additionally, each of those positions have their designated responsibilities (which, in my case, I've just kinda delegated according to what I'd like each person to do). Overseeing pep assemblies and lunch-time activities are the Commissioners of Spirit (I know, I know...), and committees chairs are appointed for other projects as they may come up (such as the Community Involvement Committee, in charge of community outreach, or the Homecoming Committee that would oversee homecoming). The committee system is somewhat flawed in that the chair usually ends up doing most of the work for the project, but events usually proceed much more smoothly because of this. The SB President needs to, of course, oversee all of it (a friendly combination of delegating and micromanaging). The class office positions are, to some extent, just honorary positions. The class prez may, however, be more likely to be appointed a committee chair than just a congressman.</p>
<p>Do you have any questions for me? Was I unclear about anything? Feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>For my school, we have a simple model: a president, vp, secretary, and treasurer. However, it is mostly the president(s) who guide and make decisions.</p>
<p>The old model, according to the 1962 handbook, had the same positions with a larger council group. There were seven standing committees, and any motion at a meeting could be accepted, rejected, tabled, or referred to committee, which would then vote, etc. Any issue of major importance would be voted on by the entire student body, and the student council was largely autonomous.</p>
<p>I don't have the handbook with me right now, but this is generally what I remember. I would like for next year's council to be more like the 1962 model, if at all possible.</p>
<p>thanks for the posts!
Anyone have similar/different student government models? What kinds of decisions is your group allowed to make by your school & what are the typical tasks/projects that your group is responsible for? How does your group work with the school administration & other students?</p>