Student advocacy group urges Gadsden to reinstate student school board advisor

Issa Allison, representing a student-led nonprofit, urged the Gadsden County School Board on July 22 to reinstate a nonvoting student school board advisor position and offered organizational support to implement the role.

"This isn't about a title," Allison said, describing the Student School Board Member Initiative (SSBMI) as "about giving students the role and tools and expectations that show up as leaders in our communities." He told the board the group's model includes either election or appointment options, required training in ethics and board procedure, eligibility guidance and written codes of conduct.

Allison said the nonprofit has raised more than $105,000 in three years and has supported districts such as Miami-Dade, Broward, Leon, Hernando and Palm Beach in implementing student advisor roles. He told the Gadsden board the district previously had a similar position but that it has "not been utilized in the past few years." The presenter offered templates for bylaws and resolutions and ongoing implementation support.

Board members thanked Allison and indicated they would take the proposal under consideration. One board member said they would reserve further comments for the end of the meeting and that the matter would be part of ongoing board member discussions.

The proposal is advisory only as presented: Allison described the role as a nonvoting position with structured training and district-determined eligibility criteria. He identified supporting organizations including the Florida PTA, ADA Better Health of Florida and the Florida Association of Student Councils.

No formal motion or vote on reinstating the student advisor occurred at the July 22 meeting; Allison's presentation was received as public input and the board did not commit to a timeline for action.