Students and staff described recent participation in an educators’ partnership with Columbia University and presented prototypes imagining the future of education, then asked the board to approve a student-led fundraiser.

Denise Patel, a senior at Mill River County High School and president of HOSA, told the board the HOSA club and JROTC plan to host a community 5K followed by an American Red Cross blood drive and requested permission to use the Sue and Brad Badgett Center. “HOSA and JROTC would like to meet up and host a 5 ks run and a community blood drive,” Patel said, outlining plans to invite nearby counties, create age divisions, award prizes and seek grant funding to cover shirts, water stations and supplies.

Amaris Stroud, an English teacher and Educators Rising sponsor, introduced student presenters Kate Doss, Jessica Mulligan and Skyler, who described work through a Columbia/Carnegie Institute program. The students said they created prototypes and presentations exploring technology, alternative assessments and student-driven ideas — including a proposal for a suggestion box to connect student input to the board.

The board’s chair directed the student presenters to complete the district fundraiser request form; the board did not record a formal vote in the transcript on the fundraiser request at this meeting.