Charger Opinion

Student Congress: here to serve you

Jessie Holloway, Student Body President

It’s 7:15 in the morning, a small number of cars litter the student parking lot, and a few people bustle around the Commons area. The school is just waking up like the students that will be arriving in its doors soon. However, behind the closed doors of the Lecture Hall, are a group of elected officials and representatives known as your Cookeville High School Student Congress. Inside this room, the decisions concerning every student at this school are made. Amidst lively discussions and the constant sharing of ideas, the Student Congress works to create an environment enjoyable for both the faculty and the students.

Along with developing this atmosphere, this group also has the opportunity to plan and organize out-of-school activities, such as Football Homecoming. This event was discussed in our most recent meeting. Many ideas were presented to the group; however, majority prevailed and your Student Congress has voted on “A Haunted Homecoming” as your 2004 Football Homecoming Theme. Student Government is also able to designate the dress-up days of Homecoming week, and your class presidents are given the responsibility to plan and organize the creation of your class float.

Along with Homecoming, we also discussed the most talked about topic at CHS. Yes, that’s right, the lunch prices. Your student congress members were bombarded by your concerns and questions and we were so pleased to know the level of interest you, as a student body, take in our school.

As of now, your Student Body officers have met with Dr. Michael Martin, the Director of Putnam County Schools. We are planning future meetings to discuss any further decisions on this topic. While discussing the issue of cafeteria prices with Dr. Martin and members of the Cafeteria staff, we stumbled on some old and new information. The old info: CHS students can purchase any 5 items from the area on your left when you enter the cafeteria for $1.85. The new info: You can now substitute one of the items on the far right under the “Grill” side (which includes pizza, burritos, etc.) as your entree in the 5-item meal still costing you only $1.85. Hopefully many of you will take advantage of this deal and use this new option to your benefit.

Most of you have probably noticed another new addition. Students now have the opportunity to quickly type in the last four digits of their social security number in order to gain access to their account. This has been timesaving and effective and the positive comments from you have pleased the Cafeteria personnel. There are many ideas and questions your Student Congress has presented and many of them are presently being discussed and considered; however, we realize some of the student body’s questions may not have been directly addressed.

That’s where you come in, I invite you all to come submit your questions, concerns, and even ideas into the folders outside Mrs. Anderson’s room ( #31) or The Charger room ( #206). The Student Congress would appreciate your input on anything from traffic problems in the hallway to the traffic in the parking lot. The questions submitted with be read and I will be be able to answer some of these in future editions of The Charger.

You can also talk to one of your class Student Congress members and personally address the topics of concern on your mind; besides, that’s exactly what we are here for - to serve you. So, behind the “Good Morning Cookeville High School” is a group of individuals whose main goal is to make your voice heard; and if we can leave this school at the end of the year knowing we have done our best to represent you as a student body, then we have accomplished our purpose.