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Newburgh board appoints three student ex‑officio members
Summary
The Newburgh Enlarged City School District Board of Education voted to seat three student ex‑officio members after a board vote and oath of office. The students will have a designated agenda section and are intended to provide direct student perspective to the board.
The Newburgh Enlarged City School District Board of Education on Sept. 9 voted to appoint three student ex‑officio members and administered their oaths of office. The board president, John Dorey, led the swearing‑in and said the student members will have a regular section of the agenda to present student perspectives. "You are getting your money's worth," Dorey said earlier in the meeting while describing school visits; at the swearing in he administered the oath to the students.
The newly seated student ex‑officio members are Ryan Orsino, Tina Lang (alternate), and Jimenez Morales. Each repeated the oath promising to "faithfully serve as the ex officio student board member of the Newburgh Enlarged City School District Board of Education" and to "fairly represent the interests and concerns of my fellow students." Ryan Orsino thanked his advisers and the council for their support.
The board discussed the purpose of the student seat before the vote. Trustee Phil Howard described the appointment as "an incredible moment," noting he had advocated previously for a designated student voice on the board and saying the students can offer perspectives trustees do not have. The board took a roll‑call vote on agenda item 1.2 to appoint the student representatives; the roll call recorded all voting members present as voting yes and the item passed.
Nut graf: The change creates a formal channel for student input at board meetings; the district and trustees said the move is intended to improve communication between students and the board and to bring student concerns directly into public meetings.
Board members said the students will meet with trustees outside the public meeting schedule and will present at meetings, but the board reiterated that student representatives are ex‑officio and do not replace legally elected trustees. The district will continue with school visits and student engagement events alongside the new formal student role.
Ending: The students were sworn in at the meeting and will begin participating in board business under the ex‑officio arrangement agreed by the board.
