As you may - or may not - be aware (depending on if you listen to the news or not), the Sioux Falls School District is in the process of looking for a new Superintendent with the announcement that Pam Homan will be retiring July 1 of this year. So, what are your thoughts on having a high school student(s) sitting on the selection committee?

The reason I ask is because some civic minded students in Kentucky were faced with that very issue and decided to take their argument to the state general assembly. The point the students were trying to get across to lawmakers is students make up 100% of the superintendent's constituents - yet they have zero representation on the committee that selects the superintendent.

Unfortunately, their bill never made it to the floor of the legislature. The bill made it past its first committee hearing, but so many amendments were tacked on that it never made it any further. And the Kentucky legislature adjourned for the year this past Tuesday.

Personally, I think it's a great idea. Why not include high school students in the decision making process? I think often times, we as a society, are too quick to disregard what students have to say - "Oh, they're just kids, what do they know?"

I think back to just a few weeks ago, when a group of high school students here in Sioux Falls addressed the School Board on starting school later in the year. (Hopefully you're aware that's one of the things we're voting on Tuesday April 7). A group of parents wants the district to start after Labor Day. However, the students that addressed the School Board that night said in a unanimous voice, "No, they don't want to push back the start date." Their biggest concerns were having to take semester tests after getting back from Christmas vacation, and applying for college scholarships.

So, why shouldn't we listen to the kids? If we as a district are going to be deciding an issue of this importance, why not ask the students what they think. Perhaps each high school could survey its student body. The students and the teachers- NOT THE PARENTS - are the ones who will be the most affected.

Back to the issue of hiring a new Superintendent, obviously it's too late to include a student representative in the decision making process this time around - but maybe keep it in mind for the next time!

(Kentucky information courtesy ABC Radio News)

More From KIKN-FM / Kickin' Country 99.1/100.5