Board advances first reading to expand student advisors on governing boards

The Granite Falls School Board accepted the first reading of a proposed amendment to Policy 12.50, "Students on Governing Boards," to allow a broader application process for student advisors and permit more than the current single ASB vice-presidential representatives to participate.

Superintendent Dana Giesland said the proposed change is intended to make student participation less dependent on ASB office-holding and to allow ninth-graders to apply, so more students can serve and provide continuity year-to-year. She said the district reviewed Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) and peer-district policies when drafting the change and noted some districts have moved student advisors toward voting membership.

Board members discussed procedural items in the draft and requested edits to numbering in the procedure text. A board member made a motion to accept the first reading of the amendment; another board member seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote with "Aye" from those present. The item will return for a second reading before final adoption.

During the meeting the board also approved, by voice vote, a motion to excuse the absences of two directors (Carl and Bill) and approved the consent agenda by unanimous consent. Those three formal outcomes were recorded during the meeting but no roll-call vote tallies were read into the record.

The superintendent also described student involvement in the high-school principal hiring process: roughly 100 students provided survey feedback and eight students will participate on the interview team for principal candidates, including candidate presentations and building tours.

The first-reading motion does not change practice until the board completes a second reading and any final adoption.