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Committee discusses adding student ex officio board members; no formal vote
Summary
The policy committee discussed state-mandated inclusion of a student ex officio board member beginning July and debated selection methods, number of representatives and participation rules; committee agreed to discuss parameters at agenda setting rather than move the draft to the board yet.
Members of the Newburgh City School District Policy Committee on March 6 discussed a state-mandated requirement to include an ex officio student member of the board beginning in July and wrestled with how many students to include, how they'd be selected and what duties and limitations they would have.
The committee heard that the statute requires student ex officio members to sit with the board at public meetings and be allowed to speak on issues, but they may not attend executive sessions or vote. Mr. Shaw (staff) explained procedural options and observed that districts may adopt regulations to define selection and qualifications: "You have to make a decision about who will decide, how many student ex officio student board members you want to have," he said.
Board members proposed having one student representative from each of the district's three high schools and discussed selection methods: student-government selection, appointment by a principal, application and board appointment following a campus selection, or a majority board appointment after nomination. Miss Peterson said preparation and clarity about expectations would be important: "They need to understand the commitment before they agree to it." Several members suggested allowing alternates or multiple students per building to accommodate students with extracurricular conflicts.
The committee did not move a formal policy to the full board. Instead members agreed to place the item on the agenda-setting discussion so the board can discuss parameters, and staff were encouraged to consult principals about how selection might work at each high school. The committee noted that the student seat may be filled by any qualifying sophomore, junior or senior and does not require insurance as the student will not vote or attend executive sessions.
There was no vote to adopt or advance a final policy; the committee will discuss final parameters at an upcoming agenda-setting meeting before presenting a completed policy or regulation to the full board.
Sources: Committee discussion during the Newburgh City School District Policy Committee meeting, March 6.
