Inver Grove Heights Schools students in grades 4, 7, and 11 met this November to begin work as the ISD 199 Student Advisory Council for 2022-2023. Schools selected students who have shown leadership skills this year to be part of the council. Council members meet with the superintendent throughout the school year and work together across grade levels to offer their perspectives on district topics.
At their first meeting, students visited the ISD 199 District Office to meet with Superintendent Dave Bernhardson. Council members learned about the district, each other, and some district initiatives during their first meeting. Students toured the district office to better understand its functions and how all of the district departments and schools collaborate to serve students. In another activity, council members introduced themselves to one another by sharing facts about themselves in pairs and then presenting facts about their partner to the group.
After introduction activities, students learned about the district’s work to further improve the student experience. Students answered questions about what it should look, sound, and feel like to be a Spartan. They answered questions individually before bringing their ideas to the other students in their grade and then to all of the students on the council. At each stage, students worked together to narrow down their final answers to each question. The council ended their meeting with a finalized document of the ideal Spartan student experience.