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Williamsville board approves student board member election rules; board removes staff voting option
Summary
The board voted to approve a student board member selection process but struck committee language allowing staff to vote; the amended procedure was adopted and the board asked for a formal policy to follow the law and prior board direction.
The Williamsville Central School District Board of Education on Feb. 11 approved a student board member selection procedure but removed language that would have allowed district staff to vote in the selection.
A committee had proposed that school staff be permitted to vote on a student board member to reduce the influence of popularity contests; committee members said students specifically requested staff participation. A trustee, however, moved to amend the proposal to restrict voting to the student body in keeping with the board’s earlier direction and with the statute’s primary emphasis on student selection.
“I think the first thing you want to teach a student who’s going to be sitting on this board is you follow the direction of the majority of the board and you follow the law,” said board member Mr. Manna, who offered the amendment to remove staff voting. The board voted 7–2 in favor of the amendment; two trustees opposed.
After the amendment passed, the board voted unanimously to approve the student board member proposal as amended. The board president said the district will prepare a formal policy reflecting the changes and that the implementation target remains July 1, 2025, per the timeline the board discussed.
Committee members said staff would not be required to vote even if the option had remained; proponents argued staff participation was suggested by students to mitigate popularity effects. Trustees who supported the amendment said the selection process should follow the board’s resolution and keep voting within the student electorate.
Administrators and board members also noted an obligation to produce a formal written policy before the first selection cycle. The board directed staff to draft a policy for later review and formal adoption.
