Student representatives urge greater student voice: suggestions include Safe2Help app promotion, student council leadership and homework clubs

Student representatives at the Wheeling CCSD 21 meeting on March 20 outlined ideas to increase student voice and reported ongoing extracurricular updates. The students asked the board and administrators to amplify student-led communication and to promote tools for reporting concerns.

Santi, a student representative, urged wider use of the Safe2Help app (also referenced as SAFE2 or text/phone reporting) and suggested assemblies to make students aware of the tool and how to use it, noting both anonymous and identified reporting options. Santi also said that a social-work form has been used frequently at Cooper and that the tool is a way for students to inform staff about issues affecting them.

Another student representative recommended expanding the role of student councils in planning social events and allowing student leaders to make announcements over morning intercoms to increase the presence of student voice. Student reps also described a peer-led homework club pilot idea where older students would tutor younger peers, which was presented as an example of student councils turning concerns into actionable programs.

Student reps concluded with school updates: rehearsals for musicals, boys volleyball, track and field, and spirit week were all in progress at various schools across the district.

Ending

Board members thanked the student representatives for their ideas. The recommendations — promoting Safe2Help, expanding student council responsibilities, exploring homework-club pilots and increasing student-led announcements — were presented for the record and may be forwarded to principals and staff for consideration in school-level planning.