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Committee begins drafting ex officio student-member policy; students urge elections, mentorship and clarity
Summary
The committee reviewed draft Policy 2245 (ex officio student members required by state law) and heard student proposals emphasizing elected representation, rotational participation, mentorship and clearer role descriptions; staff will draft policy language and students will provide process examples and data for January.
The policy committee began drafting Policy 2245 to formalize the district’s ex officio student-member process after a state requirement. The committee and student reps agreed the policy should preserve student-body elections where possible, define ex officio roles clearly, and include mentorship and information-sharing to make the role meaningful.
The chair told the group the draft was based on New York State School Boards Association template language and that the district has previously called student participants “reps” without a formally adopted process. “It’s now New York. It’s a law that you have to have an ex officio policy,” the chair said, explaining that the committee will need to write selection procedures, clarify number of representatives and state expectations for student participants.
Students proposed electing a small number of ex officio members (for example, one from each high school or one from LACS and one from IHS) with rotation options so more students can participate without overburdening individuals. One student described using ranked-choice online voting and school assemblies as effective campaign and outreach mechanisms.
Students and board members discussed mentorship models, including pairing a board member or teacher advisor with student reps, giving students access to agendas and pre-meeting materials, and developing clear role descriptions so students know what they can expect and what is expected of them.
The committee asked students to compile written election procedures (one school offered to share a 12-page document and flowchart) and to meet to draft ideas; students agreed to assemble input in a Google Doc and return data and recommendations at the next policy meeting.
No policy was adopted at the meeting. The committee set a timeline to circulate draft language and to review student-provided materials ahead of a January full-board discussion.
