Committee hears H.640 to add student members to school boards; students urge voting seats for high schoolers

Montpelier — The House Committee on Education heard testimony Jan. 30 on H.640, a bill that would require school districts organized to provide secondary education to include student members on their boards, with voting members from grades 9 through 12 and non‑voting members for grades 7 and 8.

Representative Leanne Harpel, sponsor of the bill, told the committee the idea came from students who participated in a Governor's Institute program and drafted the proposal. Harpel said the intent is to “put our trust in the voices of young people,” and emphasized the bill is meant to give students a seat at the table as decisions about education affect them directly.

Beth St. James of the Office of Legislative Counsel walked the committee through the bill language. Under the proposed amendments to the school board chapter (Title 16), each district organized to provide grades 9–12 would have one voting student member from each grade — for a total of four…