Student candidate Axel Barajas addresses board; staff to bring recommendation for student representative in September

Staff described the process the high school used to solicit and review applications for the student representative to the board: announcements were posted on hallway monitors and communicated during student Panther Time for two consecutive weeks, interested students submitted a one-page statement of interest and school staff (including Asha Shaw, Lindsay Taylor and Robertson) reviewed the submissions.

A staff presenter said the district received two applications and that the review team identified a top candidate to recommend to the board. The district said no appointment has yet been made; staff indicated a recommendation will be presented on the board meeting agenda in September so a new student representative could potentially attend that meeting.

One applicant, rising senior Axel Barajas, spoke to the board. "I've been a student at Redford Union ever since second grade," Barajas said. He described involvement in school activities, said the school is entering "a new era" with recent facility improvements and said he would like to represent students as the district continues that work.

Staff and trustees praised both applicants' letters and said the process used this year was more formal than in prior cycles, which in the past relied on informal recommendations. Board members asked for the students' written submissions to be included in the packet when the recommendation is brought forward so trustees will have time to review them before voting.

Why this matters: the student representative provides a student perspective at board meetings; trustees said they want the selection process to be transparent and for the representative to be able to attend in person when appointed.