Student Leadership Congress
First meeting: September 17, 2008

Attendance: Sarah DeLaus, President of the Student Leadership Congress (SLC) and Student Representative for the Board of Education.

Advisors: Tom Petronio, Nicole Crocker, Barbara Jarzyniecki

Guest: Jean Claude Brizard, Superintendent of Schools

Approximately 70 students from almost every high school attended the first Student Leadership Congress Meeting on September 16, 2008. There were only two schools not represented at this meeting: Jefferson High School and the North West College Preparatory School.

Sarah expressed her excitement in the number of students who attended the first meeting. She gave an overview of the SLC and introduced the first guest, Jean Claude Brizard, the Superintendent of Schools. He provided an insight of the District’s mission and the goal to increase graduation rates. Mr. Brizard proceeded to entertain questions. Many of the students posed questions regarding teacher preparation, the school breakfast and lunch program, safe schools, in-school suspension rooms, technology, smaller class sizes and electives such as a drivers education programs. Mr. Brizard indicated that he will be attending the SLC monthly meetings to interact with the students.

Following the Superintendent’s comments, Sarah led the introduction of all the students in attendance and the schools that they represented. She introduced the student advisors for the year: Tom Petronio, Barbara Jarzyniecki, and Nicole Crocker. After the introduction, a discussion of proposed activities for SLC in the upcoming year took place.

The following suggestions were made by the students and a majority vote was entertained:

• Enlist SLC students to hold a forum at Baobab Cultural Center – a Sunday event
• Continue the partnership with Wilson Commencement Park
• Enlist SLC members to discuss and survey students at individual school sites on what will make a difference
• Create a partnership with Community Place: training for the transition of 6th grade students into 7th grade.
• Provide student mentors in elementary schools – the teaching of respect and responsibility.
• Develop a PSA on the importance of parent involvement
• Assist homeless shelters (e.g. a soup kitchen)
• Continue the Big Brother/Big Sister Program
• Arrange a day for high school students to attend a college or university. SLC will work with school principals and colleges and universities to make this an event for all students interested
• Coordinate a job fair
• Conduct a supply drive

Students also expressed an interest in writing articles for the Students First newsletter and participate in the production of the Students First TV show. All students were asked to express an interest by signing a form to participate.

Sarah reviewed the schedule of monthly meeting with the group and added a special volunteer activity. She announced that the Pre-K College event will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2008 at Nazareth College. She stated that there is a need for SLC volunteers on that Saturday and more information will be forwarded to the group. This is a community service activity. Sarah introduced Ms. Crocker who provided a brief description of the program and stressed the importance of the participation of District parents and their pre-school children.

Sarah announced the schedule for the upcoming meetings and the plan to address the information presented at today’s meeting.

Students were encouraged to attend a Board of Education meeting as a SLC member. The next meeting is Thursday, September 25, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. in the Central Office 3rd Floor Board Conference Room.