Most high schools have a student council whose elected members meets regularly to plan community service events, raise money for projects like the prom, and address student concerns with the school administration.
But Mt. Abraham Union High School in Bristol is working on something out of the ordinary: a democratic constitution. Junior Torin Olivetti says this governance system will be different than a student council, because it also brings together staff, administrators, and community members. When the new constitution is ratified, students will have a larger say in how the school is actually run.
VPR’s Jane Lindholm went to Mt. Abe Union High and sat down with Torin Olivetti, and with English teacher Rich Steggerda to see how the effort got started.