District attorneys and administrators presented a plan on March 27 to bring the district into compliance with state law and existing policy requiring a student-elected school committee representative.

Charlie Gallo, compliance officer, reviewed the statutory requirements: a student school committee must meet at least once every other month, consist of five students elected by their high-school peers, and select among themselves a chair who serves as a nonvoting ex officio member of the school committee (not participating in executive session). Gallo said the district’s existing policy mirrors the statute but the practice has been limited.

Deputy Superintendent Alyssa Algores proposed a phased implementation: this spring (2025) each comprehensive high school (Classical, Lynn English, Lynn Vocational Technical Institute, Frederick Douglass Collegiate Academy) would select one freshman, sophomore or junior to represent that school through the 2025–26 year. SAC members would elect one of their own to serve as the school committee student representative and would be permitted to appoint a designee for absences. The plan envisions SAC members meeting monthly with one or two school committee members and at least one district designee while remaining mindful of open-meeting-law constraints.

The proposal also excludes current student-government officers and the superintendent’s student cabinet from eligibility to broaden opportunities. School committee members asked logistical questions about scheduling meetings and noted virtual options could be helpful to accommodate after-school activities.

No committee vote was held; district leaders said this is a plan for committee feedback and that the district would proceed with nominations and the SAC election this spring with the intent for the student representative system to take effect in September 2025.