Richland Superintendent seeking to fill advisory groups

RICHLAND, Wash.-- The Richland School District is gearing up to provide panels made up of students and community member to provide input to the district as to how schools are operated.

Superintendent Dr. Shelley Redinger made the decision to form the groups to ensure that that diverse perspectives are included as the district makes decisions and policies.

“We are at a critical juncture in the role of education and schools in our society,” Dr. Redinger says. “It’s never been more important for our students and neighbors to work alongside us to ensure we are helping students be prepared for successful futures and to make our community even better.”

The student advisory committees will follow a similar model as used in recent years, with student leaders nominated by school principals meeting regularly with Dr. Redinger to have informal conversations on topics important to students and from the student point-of-view.

Redinger also plans to stand up a Superintendent’s Community Advisory Council and a Work Group on Equity & Diversity that will give community members more opportunities to weigh in on important topics and initiatives.

• The Community Advisory Council will be made up of community members from each school who will meet with Dr. Redinger and other district and school representatives to learn about and give input on various district initiatives and projects, from boundary realignments to increasing mental health supports for students.
• The Work Group on Equity & Diversity, which will also have student members, will advise Dr. Redinger and make recommendations on how to best support students of color and historically underserved communities in RSD schools.

Community members interested in joining either the Citizen’s Advisory Council or the Work Group should complete and submit the appropriate application no later than 4 p.m. on Oct. 9. Applications will be reviewed by Dr. Redinger and appointments approved by the Board later this fall.

Links to the applications may be found here: https://www.rsd.edu/news-announcements/news-details/~board/district-news/post/apply-for-one-of-our-new-advisory-groups