Three years at Oak Lawn Community High school has helped student Heidi Solis gain the confidence to start and lead a Girls Who Code Club, but that wasn’t enough for the rising senior.
She wants to help lead other students at the high school along a similar path by offering the administration insights about what’s helping them and what isn’t.
“I’m not really a social person, but OLCHS has helped me grow my confidence and grow as a person,” Solis said. “It’s the way they (teachers) create a very comfortable environment and push their students to be the best version of themselves.”
Superintendent Shahe Bagdasarian and the Oak Lawn School Board were seeking some guidance from students and invited a junior and senior to Committee of the Whole meetings. Heidi and rising junior Allison Nava were chosen after giving speeches to the board. Their first meeting will be Oct. 2.
“The purpose is for our board to bring more student voices to decisions that are being made at the board level,” Bagdasarian said. “It’s an opportunity to share feedback and perspective from the student lens.”
Bagdasarian reached out to school districts in Lyons Township and Leyden Township, which each has such a program, for input on the benefits and challenges. He pointed out students wouldn’t be able to vote, but they could still have an impact.
“I think it’s important not just to hear their voice but to have an opportunity to see how civic leadership works,” he said.
He also said while the school has a very diverse student body, “I want to make sure all our kids feel welcome and safe in this environment.”
Student representatives are still somewhat of a rarity in the south suburbs and nearby Districts 218 and 228 do not have them.
But Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School started a program last year with one student rep. attending board meetings, who “shares perspectives from the student body with the board, both positives and areas for improvement,” according to Carla Erdey, director for Communications and Community Engagement for District 233.
Solis said she was also looking forward to learning more about how to be a good leader.
“By being in the meetings with leaders and seeing how they make decisions on what shapes our school, I can learn from that, which could help my future,” she said, noting it could also help her “become better at being a leader for my clubs.”
She’s attended an OLCHS board meeting before and said it was an eye-opening experience.
“For me it was more of how they concentrated on different parts of the school — not only academics but also sports and offering students better support for their future,” she said. “It makes me happy to know our school is not only interested in academics but also about our interests and our future.”
Solis plans to get input from fellow students during lunch or class breaks. She is also in Mathletes, National Honor Society, and Stem Club. Outside school she is in Code2College and periodically goes with that group to help seniors in assisted living facilities with technology. Her favorite pastimes are playing with her cocker spaniel and drawing.
Fellow student representative Allison Nava said she is equally excited about the opportunity.
“People should be able to get the most out of high school,” Nava said. “As we come into the new year, we need to grow as a community and it starts right here.
“I see everything going on around me and I want to help people grow to become best versions of themselves.”
Nava, who loves sports for the physical and emotional boost, said it was also important to bridge insights.
“With a committee and student partnership, both parties can understand each other better and find ways to promote growth,” she said.
Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
