Board debates selection method, attendance and duties for ex officio student board member

Port Washington trustees spent significant time on March 11 discussing how the district should implement the state requirement for an ex officio student member of the Board of Education, covering selection method, training, attendance and the representative’s role. Trustees referred a draft to the policy committee and set timing milestones for the coming months.

Trustees considered several selection methods—including election by the student body, appointment by the board and appointment by school or district officials—and were split in preliminary preferences. After discussion and input from administrators who had polled students, the board reached consensus to proceed with the student body election model and to include a student alternate. “For me, my vote would be to do a full student body vote, have no input from any adult, and let the students decide,” Trustee Sandra Alvarez said during the discussion.

Key points and constraints discussed - Timeline and policy deadline: trustees noted a July 1 deadline for implementing the new student‑member rules and agreed to have the policy committee draft the detailed policy and present it to the full board; the high school will coordinate the election and the board expects to announce results at the June 17 meeting and swear in the student at the reorganization meeting. - Eligibility and grade: the board favored limiting eligibility to seniors; administrators had told trustees some students suggested seniors as appropriate because of longer experience in the district. - Attendance and participation: trustees signaled students should attend regularly. The board agreed that an ex officio student member should be subject to the same general attendance expectation as trustees and that missing three board meetings without an approved excuse could trigger a vacancy process; the board also agreed to allow reasonable early departure when meetings run late and to set a working time cap of about 9:30 p.m. for student participation unless the student and board president agree otherwise. - Role and duties: trustees agreed a formal job description should appear in the policy; the student will be allowed to report on student concerns, solicit student input and participate in discussions but will not have a vote. Trustees discussed training as a required support so the student can follow agenda items and raise matters the board can act on.

Next steps The board directed the policy committee to draft a Port Washington–specific policy consistent with sample policies the administration provided and to return with suggested language. The policy committee was asked to consider application materials or a job description, rules for alternates, attendance and remote participation language consistent with district practice, and whether the student report should be a standing agenda item.