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Students Bring Concerns To School Board

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By ADAM EMERSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 13, 2009

Updated: 01/13/2009 06:43 pm

The money troubles trickling from the state down to public schools are weighing heavily on Hillsborough County students, who made it clear to their school board today that they want their programs and extracurricular activities intact.

During their once-a-year opportunity to tell the school board what's on their minds, student leaders from the county's more than two-dozen high schools made their pitch to protect – and in some cases enhance – what they cared about.

The threat of millions in budget cuts dominated much of the question-and-answer session.

Will cuts affect the number of electives offered? Will they weaken the arts offered at magnet schools? Will athletics be pinched, as other districts have proposed, or will teachers face further cutbacks in the classroom?

School board members promised to address all their questions in letters, but they warned students that they won't like some of their answers. They said the state has tied their hands while the economy continues to sour, adding this may not be the year to enact more "out-of-the-box" ideas.

If recent years are any indication, the school board takes the students' questions seriously. Years ago, students wanted to take first-semester exams before the winter break, not after. They got their wish.

Now a state law forcing a later start to the school year will reverse that progress. Next winter, students can expect to finish first-semester exams in January, and they let the board know Tuesday that they weren't happy.

Camille Beredjick, editor-in-chief of Chamberlain High School's student newspaper, said some students have been able to graduate high school early and begin college in January. "That will not be an option next year," she said.

The board urged them make their dissatisfaction known to state legislators. "We need you desperately to be advocates right now," board member Jennifer Faliero said.

Reporter Adam Emerson can be reached at (813) 259-8285.

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