Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Advisory Council topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Student advisory council presents concerns on drugs, language support, safety and CTE
Summary
Students on the superintendent's advisory council briefed trustees on substance use, English-learner supports, school climate and proposed CTE pathway specializations; they recommended expanded prevention education, increased ESL training for teachers and targeted CTE tracks.
Students from the superintendent's advisory council delivered a multi-school report to trustees on May 12, outlining concerns and practical recommendations about student safety, substance use, language access, school climate and career-technical programs.
At the start of the presentation, a student from Mesquite High School summarized regional substance-use data and common substances, saying "the most commonly used drugs among teens are alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco," and urged districtwide prevention and education campaigns. The student group recommended expanding vape detectors and increasing prevention assemblies and support meetings, and referenced Texas Education Code §38.351 when discussing allowable structured support groups.
Students from North Mesquite and other campuses raised concerns about teachers relying on Spanish-speaking students to translate instruction; they recommended short professional-development sessions so teachers better understand ESL program purpose and structure. Elementary students who surveyed Beasley reported safety and climate problems (feeling unsafe in restrooms and playgrounds, bullying and social exclusion) and suggested more extracurricular clubs and mixed-class activities to foster inclusion.
Vanguard High School students recommended narrowing CTE pathways into more specialized tracks such as electronics, HVAC and aviation maintenance so graduates can enter the workforce directly or pursue targeted postsecondary training. The superintendent said administration will "be looking further down the road to start adding those programs for our Mesquite ISD students, not only at Vanguard but at our comprehensive high schools as well."
