Profile

Purpose & Mission

The purpose of the Round Rock ISD VOICE is to provide an avenue of engagement and involvement with a diverse group of high school student voices in the District. The VOICE will offer advice on student concerns to the Board of Trustees, the Superintendent, and other District leaders from the perspective of the students in Round Rock ISD. The primary mission will be to positively impact the Round Rock ISD goals through student input and voice.

Membership

VOICE will consist of a total of approximately 30 students from Round Rock ISD high school campuses. We are piloting adding eighth grade students during the 2023-2024 school year. The Supervisor of Community Partnerships will serve as the sponsor and will partner with the Chief of Public Affairs and Communications to communicate with District Leadership.

Term of Service

All members of VOICE will serve for one school year with the option to continue each year until the conclusion of their senior year. Due to the nature of the extensive training and topics that students will cover, long-term participation is encouraged. Since students do have the option to continue annually if interested, the number of new students that will be admitted each year will fluctuate.

Selection

Selection will occur in the late spring each year. Members who are not Seniors will need to declare if they are continuing on for the next school year by the requested date. Once the number of open positions for each campus is determined, the selection process for new members and alternates will begin. Information will be sent out to high school students at all high school campuses. Applications for those interested must be submitted by the expressed due date and returned via email to the sponsor of VOICE. Part of the application packet will include providing two staff member names to which we can send a recommendation form (one being a campus administrator and one being any other staff member) and a parent permission form. Students will be chosen based on their statement of interest and commitment as well as in a way that diversifies the members from their campus in order to fully represent their student body. Students will be notified of selection or non-selection before August of 2023.

Operating Procedures

1. VOICE will serve as a voice for their peers in an advisory role to the Board of Trustees, the Superintendent of Schools, and department leaders of Round Rock ISD.
2. VOICE members will be trained in effective ways to gather input from their peers and will be expected to do so periodically.
3. Meeting procedures:
   • VOICE will meet person at the Round Rock ISD Lillie Delgado Administration Building or the Old Hopewell Building located beside the Lillie Delgado Administration Building. The group will meet beyond school hours to minimize disruption to the learning process.
   • There will be times that the entire group will meet and times when smaller subset groups will meet.
4. All VOICE communication regarding meeting times, dates, locations, and attendance should be directed to the sponsor, the Supervisor of Community Partnerships.
5. VOICE members will refer all media questions to the sponsor, who in turn will coordinate with the Chief of Public Affairs and Communications, and will refrain from issuing public statements on behalf of the VOICE or Round Rock ISD.