SAB UPDATE

by Zack Okun, SAB President, 2022-23

The Scottsdale Unified School District Student Advisory Board (SAB) has made significant progress in collaborating with district leadership to help improve the student experience. With the board split into six subcommittees, each subcommittee is focused on key topics that directly impact the student body.

The Technology Subcommittee is working on several important initiatives to improve classroom technology usage and access. The subcommittee is exploring the effects of phone pockets used in the classroom, as well as addressing the issue of blocked instructional materials and videos on YouTube. Additionally, the Technology Subcommittee is looking into computer tracking policies and ways for seniors to save their information after they graduate, before they lose access to their SUSD student email accounts.

The Climate and Culture Subcommittee is focused on creating a supportive and effective learning environment for students. The subcommittee is working on several initiatives, including homework help options, advance notice for exams, and academic support and tutoring. Additionally, the subcommittee is working to increase participation and success rates in Honors classes.

The Communications Subcommittee is working on improving the district's communication with students. The subcommittee is addressing the distribution of the SUSD magazine to students and exploring options for a new announcements portal. The Communications Subcommittee is also looking into ways to improve communication formats for school principals and the potential for an SUSD-monitored student Instagram account.

The College and Career Readiness Subcommittee is focused on providing students with the tools and resources they need to succeed after graduation. The subcommittee is exploring alternative credit options, college and career fairs, standardized testing, and a portal for scholarships, internships, and job opportunities.

The Safety and Security Subcommittee is working to improve security and safety measures in the district. The subcommittee is focused on addressing the issue of ID delays for students entering schools and potential resolutions. The subcommittee is also working to ensure consistency among campus security practices and the use of different colored IDs for different years.

The Equity and Inclusion Subcommittee is working to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the district. The subcommittee is focused on diversity training opportunities for staff and students, potential new consequence policies for insensitive school behavior, a central reporting mechanism, and potential school reward systems for positive behavior.

In addition to the subcommittee-specific work, the SAB as a whole is working on updates to high school graduations. The SAB released two ThoughtExchanges to gather feedback from students on graduation dates, times, recognition, and regalia. The next steps for the SAB include hosting teen town halls on each high school campus to gather more student feedback on school and district policies.

In conclusion, the Scottsdale Unified School District Student Advisory Board, in coordination with district leaders, is making great strides in improving the student experience in the district. The SAB’s commitment to student-centered initiatives and its focus on improving the district's communication, technology, academic, and safety measures are helping to create a supportive learning environment for all students.