This year, LBHS is continuing a leadership-oriented student body on campus with the continuation of the School Site Council. As LBHS continues to close the gap between staff and students, principal Dr. Jason Allemann and assistant principal Nikol King have set out to better this council in order to ensure that the school spends its money in the best ways possible.

“This committee will meet to discuss the state and county plan for expenditures and goals set for the site. On the council, we have at this time: one principal, one AP, two teacher representatives, two classified staff representatives, two students and two parent representatives,” said King.

The equality of representation ensures that all community voices are heard in the process. During their meetings, representatives will vote on important subjects regarding the school’s measurable goals.

“The student voice and perspective is one of the most important aspects in the work we do as educators. As a community of educators, we need to be open to learning from our students,” said Allemann. “Being involved and having a voice is always beneficial. How it helps the student community is up to the students.”

Anyone is welcome to attend future meetings and should reach out to the administration if interested. However, only the elected council members will be allowed to vote in order to make a change. All elections for student members have already been voted on, and each elected member will have a term of service of two school years. Different from the past House of Representatives, the Student Site Council will not update the student body with their decisions on a consistent basis.

“While they are not required to inform the school body, the council notes are always available and must be voted on at the next meeting to be approved or amended,” said King.

The two students elected for this year and the next are sophomore Annamarie McIntosh and sophomore Andrew Fink. They will join staff members Nany Mooers, Cassandra Brooker, Cyndi Kimball and Ann Bergen on the council.

“The School Site Council is not unique to our campus or to any other high school campus. Every year we have a new panel of people serving. Last year was the first time I was on the School Site Council, and I really enjoyed it, ” said college and career specialist Ann Bergen.

This council is aligned with a new section of California’s Education Code, meant to create a specific school improvement plan through the proper allocation of funds. Students will be able to voice their needs when it comes to new improvements, being able to influence what is changed in the school in future years.

“I am very excited to be a part of the council to make sure that all students get represented. From our first meeting, I saw many of the goals set by previous councils that been been put into action and some that have not. I am very excited to make sure that most -if not all- of the goals get accomplished,” said sophomore Annamarie McIntosh.

This council has been a part of a multiple-year long effort by the school to incorporate more of the student voice when it comes to making decisions about the budget and the school.

“This will allow stakeholders – staff, community and students – to share their input in the goals and outcomes of student academic success, and budget spending is vital to running an inclusive school,” said King.

Starting two years ago, LBHS also introduced the House of Representatives, in which one student from every advisory class meets with the administration to discuss potential changes to the school. This year, the House of Representatives will continue but will be renamed The Student Senate.

“I am excited to see the issues that we are going to tackle on the council this year. I look forward to working with Annamarie and I am sure her and I will be able to make the correct decisions when it comes to representing the student body,” said Fink.