At a school as busy as Northside, progress doesn’t just happen—it’s negotiated. Whether it’s fixing the pool or locking down a date for Homecoming, the distance between a student’s idea and a “yes” from administration is bridged by communication. However, for many students, the inner workings of the office can often feel mysterious. Understanding how to effectively communicate with admin is the primary way students can advocate for a better school experience.
Student Perspective
Kushala Anantharaman, President-elect of Student Council and Local Student Council (LSC) Representative, serves as a liaison between students and admin. She communicates with admin on a day-to-day basis, and her main role is to ensure that as many student concerns as possible are heard.
One of the most effective ways Kushala prioritizes student concerns is through the LSC meetings. She and two other student representatives are responsible for creating a student report.
“They take our student report and put it in the minutes—the minutes are a digital copy of anything that was said or done,” Kushala said. She added, “If anyone wanted to look back on those meetings, they could see what concerns we’ve talked about.” The student report allows concerns to be communicated directly to Northside’s principal and ensures that all student concerns are documented.
Even with careful recording of issues, communication and planning can face roadblocks. This year’s Homecoming serves as a prime example. “With everything that’s going on in the world around Northside, it’s very hard to find time…” Kushala noted. “No events are being planned right now because those tentative dates are already taken.” While students may have complained about Homecoming’s later date this year [October 24th], it was the earliest date possible due to many conflicting events taking place at that time.
What does effective communication look like? Kushala’s advice is simple: show up. She points to our swim team as a blueprint for student advocacy. “A great example of that is when the swim team came to an LSC meeting, when the pool was out of order.” Kushala said, “After that, the repair for the pool came really fast.”
Kushala added, “Because emails can get overlooked, or they can be misread, I feel like the best way to get improvements fast and in the way you want is to talk in person.”
Admin Perspective
While students focus on the “what,” administration focuses on the “how.” Assistant Principal Mr. Barry Smith, who leads club charters and organizing, provides a perspective that reveals the complex logistics behind every “yes.”
As much as the school would like to fund every event and club idea, Assistant Principal Smith explains that it comes down to budget or policy, not a lack of desire or support. “To have an event, we need to have a budget…and that needs to get approved. Northside is responsible for covering those costs,” he says. Beyond the money, CPS policy requires an engineer, security, and a certified administrator to be present for any weekend activity—logistics that students may not be aware of.
Assistant Principal Smith emphasizes that student feedback is the primary architect of school culture. “Student voices and student suggestions have shaped… what the [Colloquium] announcements were versus what they are now,” he notes.
He believes that administration can best serve the school when students step into the driver’s seat. “The biggest voice in the building is the students, and this should be a space for them. The more that they ask questions and take ownership, the more we can make [things happen] for them.” Mr. Smith acknowledges that the communication isn’t always perfect, citing the sheer scale of the school. “We are not perfect. There’s only 3 of us, and there’s like 1059 of you… We’re [all] doing our best.”
According to both Kushala and Assistant Principal Smith, the most effective progress happens when students take ownership of their environment. Whether it is showing up to LSC meetings or having face-to-face conversations with admin in the hallways, a student’s voice is the most powerful engine for progress in the building. As we look forward, the Student Council is already meeting with the admin to plan school events for next year.
Here are some helpful resources Northside students can always turn to:
