REYNOLDS PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING AND JOLLIFICATION
Reynolds School District: Transforming Schools Through Student Voice
The Reynolds Schools Initiative is a ground-breaking program —the first of its kind in Oregon—that treats students as civic leaders. In collaboration with Reynolds students, teachers, and administrators, Participatory Budgeting (PB) implements a deliberative democratic process that gives students real decision-making power over a dedicated portion of their school's resources.
We believe that learning democracy is best done through direct engagement. The Reynolds School District allocated $7,000 to this participatory budgeting process, ensuring students have a direct say in the type of school environment they want. In collaboration with the Reynolds School District and students, Participatory Budgeting Oregon (PB Oregon) provides the essential facilitation and technical assistance to lead the entire PB process.
The Challenge We Address: Student Power Building
Traditionally, school budgets are managed solely by adults, leaving students—the primary users of the space—without a voice. This disconnect leads to frustration and missed opportunities. Our challenge is to move past simple surveys and hand student the reins, fostering genuine agency and civic responsibility early in life.
Our Core Program: The Power of $7,000.00
Our initiative is structured as a clear, multi-phase democratic process that runs from April 2025 to June 2026.
Reynolds School-based PB Timeline
1. Student Steering Committee (Begins April 2025)
This phase convened a 21 student steering committee to design to engage in process rulemaking. The committee developed Reynolds High School Participatory Budgeting Jollification (PBJ) which details the process and outlines important elements like the process goals, values, and types of projects students want to see in their school. Beyond designing the rulebook, committee members learned about the distinct budgeting process, civic leadership, deliberative decision-making, and project management.