SHAWANO, WI- The Shawano School Board is once again growing, but this time, students are joining.
A plan has been put in place for the last two school years to add students onto the school board to get their perspective on issues pertaining to students.
Ania Hoffman, Riley Dreier and Madeline Schroth were added on Monday. All three answered questions from School Board Mike Musolff in an interview style similar to when they interviewed adults for the vacant spots in the past months.
Madeline Schroth
Hoffman said for her, she felt it was a good time to get involved. “Last year I heard about what was going on, but I had no idea what was happening and figured I should probably learn what is going on her in my high school.”
Dreier and Schroth talked about the difference that they feel they can make by being part of the board. “I think it is important for students to be able to give opinions on decisions that affect us,” Dreier said. “I want to be able to make a difference and I really like getting involved in things, said Schroth. “This is an opportunity to learn how things work and make connections with people.”
Riley Dreier
The students were asked about their skills that make them valuable to the board. Hoffman said she has taken on different leadership roles and has spent time communicating and listening to students. Dreier said her experience in challenging herself with 3 AP classes and being a straight A student makes her a good candidate and Schroth was a student member of the recent stakeholders group in the district and is in various clubs and groups.
The students were asked what the school can do to help students become more successful. “Give them opportunities to learn skills that will help them in life,” she said. “We need to continue to offer those opportunities and make them known to students,” said Hoffman.
Ania Hoffman
Dreier said she has noticed a difference from last year. “I think we are heading in the right direction, but I think we need to look at our graduation requirements. I think requiring personal finance is one of the best things that we do.”
“We need to make sure that we listen to students and I have noticed that a lot of people here have lost passion for learning and we need to figure out how to bring that passion back,” Schroth said.
The original plan was to select two of the three representatives, but President Mike Musolff asked why all three can’t be on.
“We have three students who will all be good additions, I would like to see all three here.”
In order to do that, the board had to vote to change the existing policy that stated two students would be on the board. That was done on 8-0 vote with Mart Grams abstaining. “I just don’t like changing policy,” Grams said.
It has not been determined exactly what the students will be able to do on the board. They will not be allowed to be in closed sessions, but they will have an active voice on future decisions.
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