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Board agrees to study formal student ex officio policy; explores BOCES-backed mental-health workforce pathway
Summary
The board asked the policy committee to draft a more robust student ex officio policy drawing on NISBA and sample district models. Separately, board members discussed a credit-bearing, BOCES-linked curriculum to build a school-based mental-health workforce pathway and agreed to receive more information including an info session on Dec. 8.
Board members discussed formalizing and expanding policy guidance for the student ex officio role and explored a proposed school-based mental-health workforce pathway in partnership with BOCES.
The board asked the policy committee to review and adapt sample policies from NISBA and other districts (Kenmore-Tonawanda and Schenectady were cited) to provide clearer direction about expectations for student representatives, mentorship and succession planning. "We should have a policy on this and we don't," a board member said, urging the policy committee to draft language for review. Members discussed options including having two student representatives (junior and senior) to allow shadowing and mentorship and to ensure continuity.
Student board member Owen and other students are expected to help refine the approach; board members described near-term plans to speed the selection of the next student representative so a successor can shadow the current rep.
On workforce development, board member Melissa described a BOCES-linked, credit-bearing curriculum designed to create a mental-health assistant pathway (a credentialed assistant role) that includes shadowing, internships and alignment with the district's portrait of a graduate. An information session is scheduled for Dec. 8; board members indicated interest in reviewing materials and in possibly advocating for the program through BOCES channels.
The discussions were exploratory; no formal policy adoption or program commitment took place on Nov. 5. The policy committee received a green light to begin drafting a student-ex officio policy.
