Student input featured at RC school board meeting Monday
by Richard Lamb, Advance Editor
The Rogers City School board of education welcomed the input of students at Monday?s workshop session. They invited comments from student council representatives and heard from a foreign exchange student. The board welcomed foreign exchange student Alev Ibis. She is from Basel, Switzerland, a city of about 200,000 and the country?s second largest city. ?When I came to Rogers City schools it was pretty sweet because I made friends really fast. The teachers were really nice. They took care of me, all of them,? Ibis said. She has a younger brother and an older sister in her native Switzerland. The classes are a bit different, she said, as there are 13 classes each student takes during the year and the school day sometimes goes until 5 p.m. Classes go at a faster pace in her country, she said, where she studied French and English in addition to her native German language.
The decision to become a foreign exchange student came quickly, she told the board. ?I thought it would be really amazing to be a foreigner and learn about the culture here and the language, which helps me a lot for my future. I thought I would do that if my cousin would do that,? Ibis said. Her cousin did agree and is currently an exchange student in Indiana. She plans to become a teacher, either staying in the United States to attend Central Michigan University or returning home to study. She serves as a link in kindergarten classes at Rogers City Elementary. She also is a member of the girls? varsity basketball team and Key Club. As a senior at Rogers City High School (RCHS) she is taking U.S. History, English, business math, yearbook, art and earth science. When asked for suggestions on how she would improve student life at RCHS Alev?s answer also came quickly.
?I would say the lunchtimes are really short. I?m sorry Mr. Huber. The lunches are only 35 minutes and that is a little short,? she said. Ibis was accompanied to the meeting by her host mother, Denise Freel. RCHS student council representatives Vinny Szczerowski, Brittney Cuipka and Sierra Centala answered questions given to them by principal and superintendent Jamie Huber. Szczerowski said the high expectations set by the board is a good thing and he said the staff helps with that goal. ?They help us push ourselves and help us reach our potential. And the staff does care and give that small-town feeling. It makes us feel more comfortable in a learning environment,? Szczerowski he said. As for improvements the students would suggest, Szczerowski said encouraging extra-curricular activities is important. He said the required computer class, currently a one-semester class, should be expanded to a full-year class. Teachers should update the online grade book more often, he offered as another suggestion. Adding more c
?I know that is about money, but if there is any way we can get more of those electives, that would be great,? Szczerowski said. More trades classes would be helpful, he said. The students were concerned with the plan to repaint the halls. Huber explained this had to be done, since chipped paint kept falling on the floors. Murals could be added, Huber said, after the walls got done. Szczerowski said he would favor increasing the staff to help students with scheduling matters and college information to help guidance counselor Marilyn Dimick with her many tasks.
?If we could have a student liaison that is formally recognized that could give a presentation to the school board at every meeting, that would be great,? Szczerowski said. Board president Mike Marx agreed, and instructed student council advisor Karl Grambau to ?make it happen.? Board members thanked the students for their thoughtful participation in the meeting and gave them a round of applause.