Student representatives urge board to protect extracurriculars and speak up for education funding
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Summary
Two student board members—Miriam George and Jae Won Choi—addressed the board about student voice, tight budgets and the need to sustain extracurricular and athletic opportunities that they say are at risk from cuts.
Two student board members used their allotted time during public remarks to urge the board to preserve student voice and funding for extracurriculars.
Miriam George, speaking as an alternate student representative, framed her remarks around "voice, funding, and the future," thanking district leaders for creating the student role and urging students to engage with lawmakers and the community to protect equitable education. "Our voices matter," she told the board, and she said students are active advocates for public funding and fairness.
Jae Won Choi built on George's points, saying that extracurricular and athletic opportunities "contribute to the quality of the students' education" but are often the first items cut in tight budgets. Choi described a concrete missed opportunity: he and a friend qualified for DECA nationals but could not attend because the district could not cover the cost of a chaperone. He urged the board to secure adequate funding so students who qualify for events can participate.
Board members thanked the students and noted their intention to include student voices in upcoming budget workshops and decision-making. The superintendent and board reiterated that students will continue to be invited into budget discussions.
The student remarks preceded a district budget presentation and the board's adjournment to a budget workshop to continue fiscal planning.