HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-03-15 Youth Forum Minutes • is
Caldwell Youth Forum Subcommittee
Meeting Minutes 3/15/2016
Present: Brandy Smith, Toni Brinegar, Donna Shines, Scott Herdegen, Ron Bonneau, Angie
Point, Geoff Starr, Steve Jenkins, Tyler Harding (CHS Assistant Principal)
Students from CHS (attended the 2015 Forum): Cassandra Madrigal, Maddee Strong, Braden
Swanson, Valeria Robles, Maria Camacho
Scott Herdegen motioned/Donna Shines seconded the motion to approve the minutes from the
1/19/2016 subcommittee meeting. Motion passed.
The subcommittee members and the CHS students introduced ourselves, and we began the
meeting by asking the students what they especially liked about the past Forum:
• Morning activities —the inclusive nature and how everyone was mixed together; we
could be heard/tell our stories
• Food
• Meetings with their own schools at the end—an opportunity to be heard, to tell ideas
We then asked the students: if you could change 2 things at CHS, what would that be?
• Food —different food
• Dress code
• Get rid of Caldwell Writes Assessment—although they like the feedback it provides on
what to improve.
• "Teachers show up to work and that's it" —students feel that too many teachers are
there with the "just a job" mentality
• Less competition between grade levels—want to feel a valuable part of the whole rather
than divided up and pitted against each other
• Teachers understand time demands, or use time in class more effectively rather than
give homework like it's the only class students have
• More choices for school activities at the beginning of the year
• Intolerance of differences (some perceived racial, political intolerances, etc)
• Celebrate commonalities rather than differences
• Use social media as conduit for messages we want them to hear
Areas where students feel their school is doing a good job:
• Recognition for academic and athletic achievements is good
• There are a teachers that support and encourage them and stay after school to give
extra help or tutoring.
• Kindness week activities
Scott shared that Vallivue students don't feel valued in Caldwell community. And in large
schools, it's hard to recognize the "under the radar" kids. Brandy shared that COSSA students
have the stigma of'the bad kids'
Angie asked that schools begin making their recommendation lists for the Forum. All thought
that the CHS students in the room should make recommendations on who should attend from
CHS the next Forum in September. Students to recommend from this year's Freshman,
Sophomore, Junior classes: those who are leaders but may not realize it (the one everyone
listens to whether they are the assigned leader or not), those who would benefit from the
training, those who are good students but aren't really involved in anything else.
Scott motioned/Toni seconded to adjourn meeting at 11:22am. The next meeting will be
Tuesday May 10th at Vallivue High School at 10am. Geoff Starr will not be able to attend.
Respectfully,
Angie Point