Students asked to help improve school
By Sarah Berthiaume
Staff Writer
HODGDON — It’s pretty routine for school boards and administrators to talk about improving their school, but SAD 70 is taking that talk a step farther.
Pioneer Times Photo/Sarah Berthiaume
FOCUSING ON THEIR SCHOOL — Members of a new focus group at Hodgdon High School include, from left: seated, Kate Duff and Jessica Guy; second row, Emmaly Jurson; third row, Morgan Hall, Michael Godfrin, SAD 70 Board Member Estela Lane, Shawn McGary, Brent Colyer and Sydney Bradshaw; back, Guidance Director Bernadette Willette, Superintendent Bob McDaniel, Erica Faulkner and Daniel Heinrich. Others participating, but not pictured are: students Christopher Williams and Morgan Hutchinson and school board members Joel Oliver and David Cassidy.
At Hodgdon High School, a new group of experts are weighing in on the issue — the students. A panel made up of 12 students and supplemented by board members and staff members convene once a month to chart the school’s course toward improvement.
“We had some concerns about attitude and the educational environment,” explained Superintendent Bob McDaniel, one of the staff members on the panel. “So, we felt if you wanted to improve things, you should go to the people in the trenches — the students. We wanted their input and we knew if the students got involved, change would occur.”
Various students were asked to participate, and all those asked were willing to join. The group convened its first meeting a few weeks ago and, over slices of pizza, members swapped ideas about their school. By the second meeting last Wednesday, the group had identified a list of positives about Hodgdon High School, as well as, a list of suggested changes. Before their second meeting ended, the “areas of priority” had been organized according to importance. Some of the topics already on this list include working out issues with: advisory groups, adult supervision, after-school programs, athletics and attitudes.
“Some things will be a quick fix, and some will take some work,” added McDaniel.
The focus group, expected to be a permanent fixture at SAD 70, will meet roughly once a month.
Brent Colyer, a senior from Amity, was candid about his involvement.
“I’m not quite sure why I agreed to join the group,” he says. “But I really like being able to see some changes.”
Colyer, who’s been a student at Hodgdon High School for the past two years, said that the focus group isn’t for the shy.
“When I first came here I was sort of shy,” he admitted. “But the closeness of the student body kind of gets into you and you get into making suggestions and into some groups.”
From his point of view, the focus group is a great venue for hashing over ideas.
“It’s a time to meet as equals,” he added. “Not as freshmen, sophomores, juniors or seniors, but all on the same level.”
Michael Godfrin, a sophomore from Orient, said the group does offer a good voice for the student body.
“I just like the fact that we’re being heard. That people actually care,” he said.
Estela Lane, a member of the SAD 70 school board and one of three school board members involved, said she’s been impressed with the students’ openness.
“They’re not afraid to speak up, and they have some really great ideas,” she said. “I think it’s important for them to learn to be involved in their education and learn that they can affect change.
“We want them to know that we care about what they think, that we want to make changes … and that there’s no idea not worth bringing up,” she added.
Some changes will happen now and others might take a while, added McDaniel, but any suggestion that can “make this a safer place and a better place to learn” is welcome.
Other students involved in the group were upbeat about the real, day-to-day impact their input might have.
“I’m just excited to see the results,” said sophomore Emmaly Jurson.
