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Central Unified board approves student‑trustee election rules, sets semester terms and outreach plan
Summary
The board voted unanimously March 25 to adopt a student trustee campaign and election flyer with amendments: two student trustees (one traditional high‑school representative and one nontraditional), semester terms, a 2.0 GPA minimum and PIO support for student campaign videos; the board asked administration to return with final video criteria.
The Central Unified School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously on March 25 to approve a student‑trustee election process designed to add two student voices to the board while rotating participation across campuses.
Vice President Carrillo, who presented the proposal as chair of the Board Bylaws, Policy and Board Engagement Committee, said the committee recommends two student trustees serving staggered semester terms so more students can participate. The committee’s proposal, as amended at the meeting, calls for one student elected from traditional comprehensive high schools (Central East, Central High, Justin Garza) and one from nontraditional schools (CLASS, Central Online, pathway programs). Each candidate must be currently enrolled in high school (grades 9–11 at the time of the election) and maintain a minimum 2.0 grade‑point average.
The board-approved rules exclude students who currently hold ASB or class officer positions from running for student trustee (the board removed proposed exclusions for other club officers); the committee and trustees also agreed to randomize candidate listing on ballots to reduce positional bias. Candidates will submit a three‑minute video as part of their campaign; the district’s Public Information Office will provide technical support and the district will publish campaign criteria in a later action item. The superintendent’s communications officer and the board president (or the president’s designee) will serve alongside the PIO to arbitrate campaign disputes.
Trustees clarified logistics: the PIO will run elections and ensure broad student access to the ballot; the board directed administration to return with specific video criteria and any campaign‑support details before the election notification goes out. Trustees also discussed whether the board should, by separate item, appoint student trustees to fill the remainder of the current academic year; Carrillo said that request should return as a distinct agenda item.
The motion to approve the student trustee flyer and campaign information, as amended by board members during discussion, passed 7‑0.
Ending: Administration will draft explicit campaign video criteria and technical‑assistance plans for board review and approval on a future agenda so the district can publicize the election timeline to students and staff.
