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Student board member Carter McKenzie asks board to revise bylaw 91.50; board sends proposed changes to governance workshop
Summary
Student board member Carter McKenzie requested clearer rules to protect student representatives from being solicited for information or used as intermediaries; the board voted to include proposed bylaw changes in the next board policy workshop after public comment and staff support.
Student board member Carter McKenzie introduced a request to revise bylaw 91.50 (student board members) to clarify channels of communication, guard student privacy, and reduce the risk of students being used as intermediaries for board business.
"When we're communicating about board business, what kind of channels should that go through?" McKenzie said, arguing that requests for student information should go through the superintendent so student reps are not put in a position to field ad-hoc inquiries. He recommended clearer language to limit direct solicitation of students by board members and to provide reporting and accountability pathways if a student feels pressured.
Public comment included teachers, union representatives and parents who urged formal protections for students. A union speaker said protecting the safety, integrity and independence of student voices must "unequivocally remain one of our top priorities." Other community members cautioned against overpolicying but supported discussion in a governance workshop.
The board moved and seconded a motion to include the proposed bylaw revisions on the agenda of the next board policy workshop for review consistent with advice from board counsel. The motion passed; the student provisional vote was recorded in favor. Trustees said the governance workshop will be an opportunity to refine language to avoid unintended constraints on student expression while protecting student privacy and well-being.
The board did not adopt final language on May 22; the next step is a policy workshop where staff, counsel and stakeholders will draft and review specific bylaw language for later board consideration.
