By Maire Crooks, The Current News Editor
River Hill’s Executive Board Student Government Association (SGA) hosted a Town Hall this past Wednesday, February 23rd to take a pulse on the student body.
The event took place during Hawktime and featured booths to discuss topics such as mental health and workload, as well as administrative operations and activities. Students had the option to attend in-person in the auditorium or join remotely through worksheets and group discussions in Ms. Schultz’s or Ms. Appel’s room.
Prior to the Town Hall, the Executive Board sent out a survey to be taken during third period to help plan the event. Some prominent concerns were the “tardy table,” closed bathrooms and spirit days.
Pooja Swamykumar is the PTSA liaison for the Executive Board. She explained the SGA’s vision: “We just wanted everyone to voice their concerns about the school because we feel like there is not a lot of connection with the students…We have suggestion boxes, but people are not really using them, and so we just wanted people to come out and really talk about [their thoughts].”
When Divya Kumar (10) was asked if she planned to attend, her first response was, “There is a student voice Town Hall?” On the other hand, Vera Smolyaninova (10) was aware of the event, but noted that she would not be present either. “I don’t have time and I don’t feel like it,” she elaborated.
However, despite less-than promising feedback prior to the occasion, the turnout was substantial. Pooja voiced, “I’m actually surprised. There are a lot more people than I thought there would be.”
The format of the Town Hall was self-paced and independent, with stations to visit where students could write down their thoughts on a purple post-it note and stick it on the table. Administrators such as Ms. Lidgard, River Hill’s Principal, and Mr. Creighton, the RHHS Athletics and Activities Manager, were present to talk and listen to ideas.
Once students were finished voicing their concerns, a form was filled out reflecting on the event. It included questions such as “What do you appreciate about the meeting?” and “Are there any areas of improvement that you envision?”
“I always wanted to be a voice in our school operations but I didn’t want to speak out loud so I like how this is kind of ‘chill’ and ‘lowkey,’” mentioned Naomi Ling (10), who communicated that she enjoyed the event.
The Executive Board has scheduled two additional Town Halls intended to take place on March 9th and April 27th.