By NICHOLAS GODEK 3/3/2021
Student-Faculty Congress (SFC) has been quite busy since my last update. SFC has had 3 meetings since my last update, and all of those meetings will be summarized below. SFC has convened on January 13, January 27, and February 10, 2021. Several committees have been initiated, and have been meeting biweekly. The discussion of CHAP has been brought up and has been discussed quite a lot between many voting and non-voting members of SFC. Other topics varying from the possibility of opening campus for free periods and lunch to a possible new position for a student to hold.
On January 13, 2021, SFC convened, and right off of the bat they initiated Fundraising Committee, which has Camilla Giorcelli as the Chair (for the Treasurer of SFC acts as the Fundraising Committee Chair) and had five members immediately join, and they are Edie von Sauer, Nicholas Godek, Tessa Barbeau, Hudson Villeneuve, and Sofia Meyer, but more members joined later on. The discussion of opening campus for free periods and lunch periods began, showing real conflict with ensuring the safety of students and contact tracing. Although some argued that it could be better as there would be fewer students in the building “taking up space” during their free periods in the rotunda, library, or any other spot in school open. Many Freshmen Class Representatives brought up their disappointment of not being able to go to town for lunch, which they felt was a cool part of being in high school. Also, a freshmen class representative said that they feel like an open campus could be an incentive to come to physical school over remote school, and this discussion leads to the passed vote to initiate Health and Safety Committee, where Thomas Quartuccio was later elected as the Chair.
On January 27, 2021, SFC convened again to discuss more issues, concerns, ideas, etc. The discussion began with the topic of students choosing remote or hybrid learning. Many ideas were brought up about having more frequent deadlines that students can choose whether they could be hybrid or remote. The possibility of combining the two hybrid cohorts was discussed and the administration told SFC that they were discussing and considering the possibility of doing so. Camilla gave the Fundraising Committee update which was talking about brainstorming new fundraising ideas. There was low attendance at the Health and Safety Committee meeting, so they decided to have a meeting on Friday. The Acceptance Committee decided to plan a meeting to discuss what they want and need to get done. There was a lot of discussion and questions on the new Board of Education position that was brought to Congress’ attention by Mr. Diamond. The position is for a rising senior to be elected as a non-voting member of the Board of Education, and they will be participating in the Board meetings being an active part of the discussion. On the mid-May ballot, there will be the position, the decision to have the position, not the candidates.
On February 10, 2021, SFC convened for another meeting. The Health and Safety Committee Update brought up how the closed campus is not state-mandated but is in place by the district due to contact tracing difficulties. Later, SFC voted and decided on an amendment that goes as follows: whoever wins the board position, if passed in the Spring, cannot be the SFC President, nor Class President. The CHAP discussion continued through this meeting and it brought up the general consensus of wanting less CHAP, but SFC doesn’t have policy-making power over the administration.