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Muncie “Student Advisory Board” Schools Board On Student Wants

By Zoe Dwiggins, IPR News | Published on in Education, Local News
MCS's Student Advisory Board addresses the school board Tuesday night. (Photo: Zoe Dwiggins)

Muncie Community School students had their chance last night to reimagine their high school experience in front of the district school board.  IPR’s Zoe Dwiggins reports on what these students would do differently.

The seven-member student advisory board’s first big idea is to make start times later for Muncie Central High School.

George Schafer says this would benefit students’ sleep schedules and mental health.  And they’ve done their homework on why.

“But also there’s very good, solid evidence from high up places, as you can see.  The US National Library of Medicine is up there, and the children’s hospital is up there as places that advocate for this idea.”

Students are interested in block scheduling – which is more like college, where the same classes don’t meet every single day.  They say it would give students the opportunity to take more classes each year.

As presented in a 2017 “State of the Schools” address by former superintendent Steven Baule, MCS has tried e-learning days on a small scale. (Powerpoint provided)

The student board is also advocating for e-learning days as a method to make up snow days.  It’s a state-approved method of learning at home by computer. Muncie’s high school held two days of e-learning trials during the 2016-2017 school year, according to the district’s former superintendent.  At the time, he said a parent survey showed much support for the idea.

Student advisory board member Troy Sowder says other county schools are using e-learning more regularly.  Sowder suggests giving students a certain time window to get the e-learning assignments done.

“This would allow children time to complete their work and get the most out of it, but not have to stress about a lack of internet connection or events, such as power outages, that occur due to weather.”

After the students’ presentation, MCS board president Jim Williams is offering the advisory board a chance to work with Emergency Manager Steve Edwards on his recommendations for the school system.

Williams also invited the students back to speak in April.