Chase Jackson, a rising senior at Harford Technical High School, is scheduled to be sworn in tomorrow as the next student representative to the Harford County Board of Education.
The 17-year-old from Abingdon hopes to study business administration at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. At Harford Tech, he studies computer-aided design and drafting. This summer, he plans to attend leadership seminars and works at Target.
Since his election in January, Jackson has attended the weekly board meetings to become familiar with the process. The student representative does not have voting power on the board - something Jackson hopes to change during his one-year term.
The Sun asked Jackson last week about his plans for his tenure on the board.
What are some of your priorities this year?
Student voting rights are No. 1. I don't know how many years they've been trying to get that. This year, I want to open the door for more students to come to the board to say what they feel because they don't really come up to the board until the policy is in effect. I want to open up the doors of communication.
Many schools have AP [Advanced Placement] courses, and some don't. So there's got to be some kind of curriculum equality. Like Bel Air High School has a bunch, and some others might have less.
How do you hope to achieve partial voting rights for the student representative?
I want to show board members that this is what the students want - they're responsible, they know what's going on. I'm trying to boost student attendance in the board meetings. It might be a power of numbers.
Do students approach you with issues they have at school?
Oh God, yes. I try to refrain from telling them that I'm the student representative. They'll talk about school lunches, that it is awful and terrible. I hear complaints that it's pre-made slop. The first year, it was bad, but my palate got used to it.
Some students don't like the cameras since the high schools have security cameras. Some students feel like Big Brother is watching all the time. Others think it has made them more safe.
Also, there's the wearing of hats in schools. That's prohibited inside school buildings. It's always been like that.
When students come up to you to air their concerns, what do you tell them?
I feel so bad. I want to tell them I'm going to do something about it. All I have is my word with the board - I don't have a whole lot. But I think if I was more aggressive on the voting rights, I think I can accomplish it.
What are students saying about school uniforms?
The majority of them are against it, a minority are for it. Some people have said it's great that they won't have to think about what to wear. Others say, 'I want to express myself.'
Sometimes when adults are like, 'It's going to prevent cliques' - well, it's going to be around anyway. It's like saying every student has to drive a Ford Focus to school.
What are your thoughts on block scheduling?
That's a tricky one. Personally, I like it. In my case, I get to take more courses and get more A's. Some students like it, some don't.
Do you think your peers are aware of the Board of Education?
A lot of them are aware. They perceive the board as they make all the policy in the county, which is true. They make policy. A lot of them feel that their opinion is not really going to matter. That's why I'm trying to make an open forum.
This is their education system; they should shape it. They know what they need.
Once I start HCRASC [Harford County Regional Association of Student Councils] meetings, I want to make sure it's mandatory for one person from each high school to go to every board meeting. I'm sure it's in the bylaws so I'm going to lay down the law.
How did you get involved with student government?
"I kind of fell into it. It was freshman year, in SGA and I saw what people were doing - kept seeing policy and what's happening.
I thought it was a great opportunity to help the students. I got to see lot more of it.
madison.park@baltsun.com