District student advisory council gives feedback on school meals, builds leadership skills

Dr. Aldana, director of secondary education, said the district Student Advisory Council—made up of student leaders from each elementary and middle school—has provided feedback on potential school meals and is developing leadership and community projects.

The council "was created as an opportunity for students to share their voice," Dr. Aldana said, describing a group that has participated in nutrition services taste testing, learned leadership skills and "recently analyzed data from a district wide student survey." The facilitator said members are "committed to making a change" at their school sites and in the community.

A student leader at the meeting said, "I think there are a lot of great ideas out there, and I would like to take many of them back to my school and hope to make it a better learning environment." Dr. Aldana added, "We are very excited with the progress we've made this year and multiple opportunities to share and collaborate. I look forward to the rest of the year and providing a platform for student voices."

Meeting remarks focused on student-led activities: providing direct feedback to Nutrition Services through taste tests, practicing leadership skills, and reviewing district survey data to identify priorities. The council facilitator said the group provides opportunities for "collaboration, critical thinking, community building." Specific numbers of participating students and exact schools represented were not specified in the remarks.

No formal board actions or votes were recorded in the transcript excerpt. The council's next steps referenced in the remarks were continued collaboration and taking ideas back to individual school sites for local follow-up.