By: Ayla Ozturk
During the Board planning session February 5th, the Visalia Unified School District [VUSD] Board of Education decided to hold student listening sessions.
Just a few weeks before, Board President Juan Guerrero visited Redwood High School to hear students’ voices.
Redwood Associated Student Body [ASB] holds monthly equity meetings where students gather to express their concerns, thoughts, and ideas.
Students have mentioned being uninformed of what the board is doing, as the decisions the board make affect them the most.
Guerrero heard their concerns and took the matter to his fellow board members. The Board then made the decision to start holding student listening sessions.
VUSD Administrator of Equity and Student Services, Brandon Gridiron, took on the task of making students heard.
According to Gridiron, VUSD high school principals received a survey to issue to the senior class the week of March 14. The survey closed March 18 at 5pm.
After the results are attained, high school activities directors and department leads will select seven students from their school.
The students chosen must be from various student groups such as student athletes, students with high GPAs, foster and homeless students, etc.
A special board meeting will be held Friday April 1 in Mount Whitney High School’s gymnasium. The selected students will participate in a focus group with the board to address students’ concerns.
Ayla Ozturk
Ayla Ozturk, class of 2024, is a fourth-year journalism student passionate about leading the News section. She is dedicated to informing students and amplifying their voices through Government and Politics writing.
You can reach her at ayla.oz3769@vusd.us.
Tags: ASB, ayla ozturk, brandon gridiron, equity forum, rangers, Redwood, redwood asb, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, rhs, student listening sessions, visalia ca, visalia unified school district, vusd, vusd equity