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Candidates highlight student advisers and Tiger Cabinet as routes for student voice
Summary
Forum participants described existing mechanisms for student participation — a student adviser to the board, Tiger Cabinet and public comment — and urged board members to visit classrooms and listen informally to students. Candidates emphasized bringing quieter students into conversations, not only the loudest voices.
Candidates at the Granite Falls School Board forum described concrete ways students can be included in decisions that affect their education: a student adviser to the board, school-based board representatives, Tiger Cabinet and the district's public comment process.
"You all have a name to play in front of you that says student adviser to the board," Peter Ledoux, incumbent board president and candidate for District 1, told the student audience, encouraging students to share what matters to them and to bring classmates to speak at board meetings. Several candidates described Tiger Cabinet as a venue with more than 60 participating students that connects student perspectives directly to board conversations.
Why it matters: Candidates framed student inclusion as both symbolic and practical: students who feel heard are more likely to engage and succeed. Multiple candidates described informal listening methods'for example, sitting in school cafeterias or attending events'as ways to gather candid student feedback.
Details and viewpoints: Candidates urged students to use public comment (the forum reminded students they have five minutes at any board meeting) and to rely on board representatives and Tiger Cabinet to elevate concerns. Candidates also stressed that board members should seek out quieter students and not only respond to the most vocal community members.
What remained unspecified: Candidates did not propose changes to the student-adviser role, meeting frequency for Tiger Cabinet, or formal mechanisms to ensure follow-up on student recommendations. Implementation timelines and staff responsibilities for expanding student voice were not provided.
Looking ahead: Candidates invited students to sign up for public comment and to work with school board representatives; they encouraged the board to continue attending school events and fostering direct connections with students.
