Using a School Board Committee to Support Activity Programs

Education in American schools goes well beyond the traditional classroom. The term education-based activities has been used by many to describe the United States’ model of incorporating sports and other activity programs, such as speech, debate, music and theatre, within the middle school and high school setting. The opportunity for students to participate in their school’s education-based activity programs as part of a young person’s overall educational experience is unique to American schooling. Education-based activities provide learning opportunities in a “non-traditional” classroom setting occurring after the regular school day has concluded.

School boards are tasked with the important responsibility of overseeing the education of children in their community. Establishing a school board extracurricular activities committee is one way to help school board members better understand and appreciate the impact and significance of their school’s education-based afterschool programs. Providing information to school board members about education-based activities helps to bring awareness of the value these activities have in building school community.

Two years ago, the Upper Perkiomen (Pennsylvania) School District school board created a school board committee dedicated to recognizing and supporting the extracurricular activity programs within the school district. The committee is composed of three school board members, one designated as chair of the committee, and meets once each month during the school year. Monthly meetings are open to all school board members and the community as well. With the school board having a designated and established committee dedicated to activity program opportunities and experiences for students, it places the subject on par with equal value and importance as the other standing committees of Finance, Facilities, Policy Curriculum, and Instruction and Pupil Supports.

Mission Statement
One of the first tasks the committee faced was developing a mission statement. The following is the mission statement for the UPSD Extra-Curricular Committee: “To recognize and support the educational values inherent in student participation in extracurricular activities and support the concept of student organizations for such purposes as building social relationships, developing interests in a specific area, and gaining an understanding of the elements and responsibilities of good citizenship. Furthermore, to recognize the value of extracurricular activities as an integral part of the total school experience for all District students as they provide a conduit for community involvement.”

The committee strives to offer a balance of presentations and discussion that include opportunities that are taking place in the lower grade levels and in the wide array of activities at the high school level including music, drama, academic clubs and competitions, service organizations, and student-created club opportunities and athletics.

Monthly Meetings
Each year the committee establishes a calendar of monthly meetings, which include updates to the committee on extracurricular activities. The superintendent extends the invitation each month to advisors or coaches and students to attend the meeting to present and share with the committee members information about the activity. The board members and the public in attendance get to hear about unique and inspirational programs that students are involved in each school year. Students are encouraged to present in an attempt to generate real-world connections and genuine dialogue between the students, coaches and advisors and the board members. The atmosphere of the meetings is informal allowing students to speak freely and empowers them to educate the Board about how their activity impacts their lives and enriches the school.

Athletics Program
In addition to inviting extracurricular activities to monthly committee meetings, the extra-curricular committee invites the athletic director to attend meetings two or three times throughout the school year. This gives the athletic director an opportunity to share with the committee, attending school board members and community members information about each sports season. It also allows an opportunity to continually educate the school board about the school district’s athletics program.

Committee Reports to the Full Board
In the Upper Perkiomen School District, two monthly school board meetings are held. The first monthly meeting is the formal school board meeting and the second monthly meeting functions as a board work session. At the monthly work session, committee reports are given at which time the extracurricular committee can report to the full board about its monthly committee meeting. This is the opportunity for the extracurricular committee to share the important happenings of all school activity programs in the school district and serves as an opportunity to educate board members about the importance of these activities.

Having a school board committee that supports sports and other activity programs helps School Board members and administration to make connections with advisors, coaches and teachers that may not normally occur in the function of a school district. Each extracurricular meeting allows committee members and others in attendance to learn something new about a program and/or opportunity that is taking place in the district and reminds every one of the importance of all school programs as there is a place and an opportunity for all students in the school district.