Committee reaffirms student-involvement policy, allows two alternates and possible stipend

The committee on legislation, rules and policies of the Milwaukee School District on Oct. 8 reaffirmed Administrative Policy 8.18, Student Involvement in Decision Making, and added language permitting the Student Services Advisory Committee (SSAC) to elect two alternates and allowing the board to approve a stipend for student representatives.

The action followed a presentation by Superintendent Brenda Cassellius and public comment from student leaders who urged clearer, accessible ways for students to participate. The committee voted 4-0 to adopt the reaffirmation with the added language and asked administration to bring back a plan for procedures and any stipend recommendation.

Superintendent Brenda Cassellius told the committee that “when students are involved in decision making, they feel a greater sense of ownership, responsibility, and belonging,” and recommended reaffirming the policy to preserve student voice. Student speakers expanded on practical concerns: Manuelis Ishag, a three-year SSAC leader, said students “have to give up a lot of time” and asked for flexibility in attendance requirements so representatives are not required to attend every meeting. Owen Driscoll urged starting small and suggested appointing student representatives to specific committees, saying the role would “amplify student engagement, raise awareness of board initiatives, and foster trust through open communication.”

Committee members debated operational details. Director O'Halloran and others expressed support for letting the SSAC determine how to select and rotate representatives, rather than locking detailed procedures into board policy. Vice President Herndon and other members pressed the administration to consider how to include students who are chronically absent or otherwise not the typical student-leaders; Director O'Halloran also asked administration to research stipend models and comparable practices in other districts. The committee agreed that the stipend language would be enabling — the board “may choose” to approve a stipend — and that any stipend approval would be a separate board decision, not automatically included in the policy text.

Chair Zombor moved to reaffirm Administrative Policy 8.18 with the two alternates and stipend language and to ask administration to return with procedures and stipend recommendations. Director Herndon, Director O'Halloran and Director Vannoy voted "aye." The motion passed on a 4-0 roll call.

The committee also discussed implementation options mentioned by administration, including multiple student representatives who rotate attendance, potential high school credit for service, and using stipends to reduce financial barriers for students. Several members emphasized that further procedural details could be developed by the SSAC and returned to the committee for refinement, and that the policy would be revisited in the district’s ongoing policy formatting work.