by: Arnav Singhal
Sports Editor
As the new school year begins, Los Gatos High School’s administration has taken a major step toward amplifying student voices through starting a new term of the long standing School Site Council (SSC). The SSC is a committee that brings together some of the brightest minds and most dedicated voices on campus to serve as a platform where students, teachers, parents, and administrators collaborate to shape the future of the school, ensuring that every decision reflects both community insight and student perspective.
The SSC includes two student representatives from each grade, several teachers, parent members, and school administrators. Admission is competitive — each fall semester, students from every grade level elect their peers to serve for the year. This year, on Sept.15, 15 juniors and over 30 freshmen competed for three spots on the committee, with junior Dani Borenstein, freshman Diego Ortega, and freshman Zoe Freeburger coming out on top.
The council’s main goals are to review and approve the Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) and the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), which are the school’s plans for achievement within the next ten years, and ensures the actions as a committee are aligned with these plans, shaping policies that affect academics, student wellness, and school programs. The plan also allocates $50,000 in funds for teacher development and campus initiatives, including sending teachers to major national conferences like the California State Athletic Director Conference and the Midwest Clinic 2025 for band.
The council provides opportunities for students to take on leadership roles as treasurer and secretary, exposing them to real-world responsibilities. Senior Connor Krawes and sophomore Arnav Singhal hold the treasurer positions and handle funding, senior Sophia Krish and junior Fernanda Cantu Valdez hold the secretary positions and take meeting minutes.
The SSC ensures that student voices have real influence, because it operates as a committee where each student has the same number of votes as any teacher or parent. Jack Zhang, sophomore class representative and two-year committee member, reflected, “The best part of the School Site Council is seeing how students, teachers, and parents come together to make meaningful changes; it’s a reminder that leadership is about listening and collaboration.” By participating, students learn how leadership works through process, dialogue, and compromise. It fosters shared decision-making and SSC not only strengthens school initiatives but also cultivates a new generation of thoughtful, engaged leaders prepared to make a lasting impact both inside and outside the classroom.