Harrison High reframes extracurriculars into student-led "agency" program; advisers trained, districts cites attendance gains

Harrison High School on Nov. 5 outlined a district initiative to shift extracurricular activities from adviser-run, one-off events to student-led programs designed to build leadership, belonging and measurable academic benefits.

Principal Miss Buickama told the Harrison Central School District Board of Education that the change rests on deliberate systems and routines rather than chance. "Nothing in Harrison happens by accident," she said, adding that the district defines student agency through "choice, voice and ownership." The presentation traced the work from a 2023 summer course for advisers through study-group refinements and two summer-course iterations that now support club advisers and coaches.

Leah Moore, one of the teacher leaders who helped design the program, said the effort sought to end what she described as clubs that functioned as “compliance.” Advisers were asked to craft mission statements with students, to "let go" of day‑to‑day control and to allow students to make consequential decisions about budgeting, leadership selection and partnerships — in Moore’s words, moving "beyond the bake sale." The reorganization included creating additional and smaller committees within clubs to give more students sustained roles and reasons to return.

Assistant Principal Dr. Maria Pace, who presented findings from a dissertation using Harrison High School data, reported that students who participated in any extracurricular activity missed on average about six school days per year, compared with about 16 days for nonparticipants. "Participating students, on average, missed only six days of school per year, compared to about 16 days for students who were nonparticipating," she said. Pace said that unlike much prior research, Harrison’s data showed the participation benefit across socioeconomic groups; she credited deliberate steps such as providing transportation, waiving participation fees and offering more than 90 extracurricular options to broaden access.

Advisers who attended the district’s professional learning course described concrete changes. Liz Hill, advisor to Friends of Rachel, said her role shifted from agenda-setter to coach: cabinet members now manage Google Classroom, set agendas and lead projects that include outreach and service events. Hill said the group now pursues deeper work — for example, attending an external walk rather than only performing awareness activities in school.

Youth Volunteers of Harrison (YVH) advisers Deb DiFiore and Anna Abellian described restructuring into subcommittees (fundraising, service, graphic design and team building). Student members said the new format let freshmen and seniors sit together in planning circles and contributed ideas that are carried forward; Kayla Endy, a junior on the service committee, said the group planned a winter clothing drive and that "anyone of any age has the opportunity to share their voice and become a leader."

Board members asked whether advisers who had not yet taken the course were adopting the practices. Presenters said the change is spreading organically: students who participate across multiple clubs are modeling new norms, and nonparticipating advisers report observing different kinds of student-led communications and proposals. The board signaled a preference for continued voluntary professional learning rather than a mandate.

The high-school presentation team provided a timeline of development: a July 24, 2023 inaugural summer course, follow-up study-group work that refined the curriculum and two subsequent summer-course offerings. Presenters said more than half of advisors and many coaches have taken the course so far and that the district intends to continue offering it. They also introduced two student board liaisons and described plans for the liaisons to meet with board leadership twice monthly.

The board moved on to routine business after the presentation. Consent motions approved by voice vote included acceptance of the October minutes; the personnel report (appointments, resignations, SED/SCD clearance statuses); administrative items including debate and theater field trips and acceptance of a PTA donation; and finance and facilities actions such as budget-calendar approvals, an increase to appropriations, a hosted VoIP telecommunications agreement and engineering services for a district BMS upgrade.

What’s next: presenters said the district will continue the adviser professional learning, encourage advisers to adopt the student-led structures, and maintain supports — such as transportation and fee waivers — that staff credited with reducing participation barriers. The board scheduled its next regular meeting for Nov. 18, 2025, at 7 p.m. at Lewis M. Klein Middle School.