By: Maansi Maskai
It is a well known fact that students at MHS must complete a minimum of 20 hours of community service in order to graduate. However, with the frequent changes in community service coordinators resulting in changes in style of operation, students are often left confused about the policies and procedures to complete the community service requirement.
MHS has had three community service coordinators in the past 4 years. Each individual has had a slightly different method of operation. For example, in the 2015-2016 school year, pre-approval of the agency was required before students could submit hours to be counted towards graduation. In later years, the pre-approval requirement was removed, and the forms were adjusted. A new form was established from the 2016-2017 school year but was revamped by the new community service coordinator for the 2018-2019 school year and onwards.
Although it is understandable that such changes follow when there is change in management, the school could do a better job of making students aware of these changes, considering that community service is a requirement for graduation.
On the first day of school, all students were given a copy of the updated Parent-Student Handbook and were made to read crucial portions in each class period of the day. However, this handbook does not contain a detailed outline of community service policies, which is quite odd considering that community service is a graduation requirement.
Moreover, most of the student body is unaware that community service hours fall under the jurisdiction of labor laws, which do not allow a minor to work for more than 8 hours at a time. Due to the lack of awareness about this policy, students often complete more than 8 hours at a time and then find the amount of hours accepted for credit to be lower than expected.
It cannot be ignored that the Mrs. Canez has made efforts to keep students updated about some of these policy changes. Specifics have been conveyed to students through school email. However, it is also a well known fact that most of the MHS student body does not check their school emails on a regular basis. Additionally, students can also address their concerns by directly speaking to the community service coordinator, who has consistently tried to ensure ease by remaining available constantly in the College and Career Center.
However, it would definitely be beneficial for students and the current community service coordinator if these updated policy changes and specific legal guidelines could be outlined and publicized through mediums such as daily announcements, the MHS website, or through school social media accounts. By doing so, much of the current ambiguity would be cleared, making the lives of the students and community service coordinator much easier.