Board fast‑tracks first read of ex‑officio student‑member policy; trustees debate attendance and election details

The Port Washington Union Free School District Board of Education advanced a draft policy on April 8 to create an ex‑officio student member from Schreiber High School; the item was placed on the agenda as a first read following work by the policy committee.

Policy Committee Chair Trustee Deborah Brooks summarized revisions that merged model language (NISPA) with counsel suggestions. The draft designates an ex‑officio student representative to attend public regular evening board meetings, with language allowing the student to be excused early "upon notice and approval of the board president." Trustees debated whether to include a specific clock time (09:30 p.m.) or to leave discretion to the president; some favored a time limit to protect minors from very late meetings.

Trustees voted informally on procedural elements of the draft during the discussion: they set an eligibility requirement of at least one year of attendance at Schreiber High School for candidates, excluded outgoing seniors from the voting pool, and directed that appointment occur at the board's regular June meeting. Trustees also discussed notice and resignation procedures: they agreed on an "optimally two‑week" written notice for a resignation and accepted counsel's suggestion that a building principal appoint a temporary replacement if there is no alternate and the district risks noncompliance with the statutory requirement to have a student member.

Committee members said the policy will be revised to reflect the board's direction and returned for adoption at a future meeting to meet a legal deadline for placing a student in position by summer.