LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — On Oct. 27, Konocti Unified School District Board members welcomed two student representatives to their ranks: Amethyst McCoy and Isaac Huffman, both high school seniors.
After swearing in the students, Superintendent Becky Salato congratulated them and told them she looks forward to hearing their perspectives on a range of issues important to local students.
“The best way to be responsive to our students’ needs is to fully understand those needs. What better way than to hear from the students directly? Amethyst and Isaac are excellent choices to represent Konocti students because they value education and are willing to engage in the process to help things improve,” Salato said.
McCoy, who refers to themself as non-binary and prefers the pronouns they/them, is a senior at Lower Lake High School where they participate in Upward Bound, a class that provides opportunities for participants to succeed in their precollege performance and ultimately in their higher education pursuits, or as McCoy put it, to help students overcome barriers to college and to discuss real-world problems.
McCoy’s Upward Bound teacher, Michael McMurtrey, invited McCoy to consider the role of student board representative, in large part, because they have demonstrated the ability to see issues clearly and to engage in discussions about how to address them.
Huffman, a senior at Konocti Education Center and a Middle College student, is the other student representative.
Huffman currently serves as Associated Student Body president and senior class vice president, so when his civics teacher and school principal asked whether he would be interested in taking on the role of student board representative, he said he was happy to do so, as it is another way to represent and advocate for fellow students.
Both student representatives have attended at least one board meeting so far. Using the example of managing COVID — keeping schools safe, paying contractors for COVID testing, and more — McCoy said they believe most students are unaware of and uninterested in these types of issues, and probably will remain so unless students can understand how the issues affect them directly.
Huffman believes one of the most important issues facing Konocti Unified is the continuing effects of the pandemic on students’ emotional states. He said social norms are in the process of being reestablished at school.
“Power dynamics between grades are indeterminate. And some [students] are still trying to accept the fact that we've missed two years in school. People are still catching up, readapting to social dynamics,” he said.
He encouraged schools to continue to inform students about the services available through social-emotional counseling, and he encouraged students to speak up if they need support.
“I think schools are doing a pretty good job. Ultimately, you can only help people as much as they want to be helped. I’d say some people are struggling, but most are adapting,” Huffman said.
In the wake of COVID-19, another issue affecting students is the lack of teachers.
“Mainly, I want the district to work on hiring more teachers or more subs, because at the moment, a lot of teachers are out every day,” said McCoy. “At least three or four classes are held in the MPR and two classes are in the library.”
McCoy expressed concern that those locations would be difficult to evacuate in the event of an emergency.
“There is good stuff happening at Lower Lake High School,” McCoy said. “A lot of teachers are trying to teach as much as they can, even with the interruptions of disruptive students. They are trying really hard to get through as much curriculum as they can.”
Both students are pleased to represent their classmates on the school board. They come from different backgrounds but share a belief in the importance of education.
McCoy has been in Lake County for the past seven years after moving to the area from Illinois. When they’re not at school, they spend their time studying, playing video games, watching anime, and “obsessing over BTS,” a popular K-pop band.
After college, McCoy plans to travel to South Korea to teach English, and then return to Lake County to teach the Korean language to local students, “so native Spanish speakers would have another language option.”
Huffman was born and raised in Lake County. In fact, his grandfather, Bud Shipley, served as a school board member years ago, and is quite pleased with Huffman’s appointment to the board.
When Huffman graduates this spring, he hopes to have both a high school diploma and his associate degree from Woodland Community College’s Lake County Campus. In the fall, he hopes to attend a four-year university majoring in engineering or education, though he is keeping his options open.
Both students look forward to sharing their ideas with board members and informing their classmates about board issues.
McCoy admitted to feeling nervous about speaking up but said they “absolutely” felt welcome and encouraged to speak their mind.
“I get nervous about bringing stuff up, but I want to make the school a better place, so I will,” McCoy said.
Huffman said he plans to bring forth student issues and updates on what is going on at Konocti Education Center. He said his first board meeting “exceeded expectations,” as he was sworn in and then seated with the elected board members.
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November 18, 2021 at 05:00PM
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