By Raelynn Harris ’25
DHS student council has always been an important organization in the school’s community. Events, raffle donations, and fundraisers for clubs and class trips are put together by the elected officials and student council members with the student body’s best interests in mind.
The student council was revised and reformed into its current format in the fall of 2019. Student council meets together to brainstorm future activities and events that they want to happen in the school. This year student council wants to focus on community outreach and service, they’re planning on doing clothing drives and city-wide cleanups in the future.
The application process is an important step; students are free to join by answering a google form, their [students] answers to the questions are based on the creativity, dedication, and participation of students wanting to join the student council.
The student council supervisors, assistant principal Ray Coplin and instructional coach Rebecca Bell, agree that student input is important to the school, and student council is a great way to bring that input to attention. Coplin thinks the student council is important to the school because of how student input improves DHS itself. He said, “It’s always great to have student input and student buy-in. As adults, you know we obviously make a lot of the decisions but it’s great to have feedback and input from the students because many of us old-timers are out of touch with students these days. I really want to have the buy-in and input from the students themselves to allow us to make a better school.”
Coplin wants students to think of the student council as an advocate for their voices: “I want students to think of the student council being the representative voice of the school, and have confidence that the elected officials have the best interests of the student body in mind. The student council is a great active voice and to advocate for what students want, there’s an appropriate way to go about making requests or demands. When enough of you [students] rally together and make your voices heard loud enough, you guys are a powerful group and can get a lot done.”
Bell, also the English Department Coordinator, stated that the student council is all-inclusive, for all students to join, and for all students to benefit from. Bell said, “When you think of a school you should be thinking of the students, you shouldn’t be thinking of the adults, and when we have a student council we allow our students to make choices or to at least have a seat at the table when we’re making important decisions. And this is their school and their education so it’s really important to hear them.”
Bell encourages students to get involved with the student council if conflicts arise: “Their [students] own voice and how important it is to share their ideas and concerns anybody can join the student council there’s no cap on the number. Every student’s voice matters and every student benefits from the student council.”
Logan Burke ‘23, student council president, speaks to the Board of Education to bring up any concerns or ideas once a month. Burke stated, “I love Derby, I’m a thirteen-year student in the Derby Public Schools District. I just want to create a positive impact for when I leave, for everyone to enjoy Derby more than I do. When students think of student council I want them to think of something they should be proud of especially if they are a part of it, something that they can look to if they want to see a change or see something happen in the school.”
Azariah Smith ‘23 ran for student council vice-president to make and see positive changes in the school as well as to give herself a voice in the school. Smith wants all students to utilize the student council as a way to use their voices. She believes “all students have a voice in the school and still have opportunities to make changes, even if they aren’t a part of the executive board or even the student council itself.”
Student council puts in extra effort to make the school years enjoyable for everyone in creative and fun ways. The student council puts work into projects and events that affect the school, and the dress code was changed because of the student council. Currently, the student council is planning for a couple of upcoming fundraisers, a possible winter dance, and a talent show later in the spring.
The Raider Press 