Redwood students propose civic engagement project

A student civic engagement project that would be the first of its kind in Marin has gained the interest, but not yet the approval, of Tamalpais Union High School District trustees.

Students from Redwood High School delivered a presentation on the project at the district board meeting on Jan. 13. It involves the State Seal of Civic Engagement, a program adopted by the California Department of Education in 2020.

Everett Fredericks, an 11th-grader, told the board that students who participate in the program could be eligible to receive a state seal on their diplomas at graduation if they successfully complete a “passion project,” or some type of government or community activity that would promote improvement or change.

“The goal of the project is to have a measurable positive impact on the chosen community,” Fredericks said.

Fredericks was joined by student trustee Adriella Marcus and Barnaby Payne, the school principal, in asking for the trustees’ endorsement to explore the program.

“We’re seeking an OK to continue to pursue this initiative,” Payne said.

Cynthia Roenisch, the board president, said she was “intrigued” by the idea, but also “taken aback” that there were so many unanswered questions about how it would work. Also, she said she was not clear on the students’ differentiation between a “passion project” and community service hours, such as working at a food bank.

“For me, there needs to be more substance,” she said. That included details on costs, how volunteer “ambassadors” for each project would be selected and how much teachers would be involved.

“We’re trying not to create additional work for the teachers,” Roenisch said. “You need to call up other schools that are already doing this and find out who is leading it.”

Trustee Kevin Saavedra agreed.

“We need a little more meat on the bone, a little more structure, that would help us in making a decision,” he said. “I think you’re on the right track.”

The Redwood contingent agreed to come back to the board in about a month with more details.

Payne said later that he believed the group could “make significant progress to determine our process for implementing the seal in TUHSD within the month and throughout the spring.”

Fredericks said later that he has already developed a website to explain the program to prospective participants. In addition to completing a “passion project,” students who seek the seal must meet four other criteria involving academics, civic knowledge and character traits.

According to Fredericks, dozens of public schools in California, but none in Marin, have initiated the state seal program. He said more than 120 district students responded with interest to a survey he conducted last year about the program.

If approved by trustees this spring, the Redwood or districtwide program could be launched in the summer for incoming seniors in the fall. That would allow the seniors to pursue the project and other qualifications throughout the year, with the seal awards given at graduation.

“Many of us who have been in leadership believe that the leadership curriculum needs to be broadened from inward-looking school spirit to outward-looking community involvement,” Fredericks said in an email. He said he has taken at least one semester of leadership each year at Redwood.

He added that additional adult supervision, as mentioned by Roenisch, could be provided in partner organizations that volunteer to work with each student on a given project, at no cost to the district.

“We are already seeing that partner organizations are interested in participating in projects that are following a defined State Seal process,” Fredericks said.

So far, he said, the group has spoken to a Cisco executive who could be interested in mentoring a team addressing the digital divide for older residents. Also, he has connected with a YMCA executive about a project involving the social determinants of health in society.

“We are already seeing that parents and other adults in the TUHSD community are very supportive of our initiative and want to help,” Fredericks said.

As to the cost to the district for reviewing application forms and recommendations, Fredericks said he plans to submit a request to the nonprofit Redwood High School Foundation for financial help. The group has also spoken to several other school districts in Sacramento that are already engaged in the program.

“I suggest that one member of the board be designated to work with us as we advance toward finalizing the criteria, assessments and administrative process,” Fredericks said. “This will allow presentation to the full board to be most effective.”