Trustees send student‑trustee policy back to committee after hours‑long debate on election, term and representation

Trustees spent an extended portion of the meeting debating a proposed rewrite of the student‑trustee policy, focusing on selection method, term length and equitable representation across high schools.

Trustee Anne Wake introduced the policy first reading and asked student trustees for feedback. Student trustees and some trustees urged preserving elected selection and broad participation; others argued for a mixed model allowing one elected student and one admin‑recommended student per school to expand access and diversity. Several trustees proposed two‑year staggered terms to give student trustees continuity and to reduce the learning curve for new student representatives.

Legal counsel advised that attendance, code‑of‑conduct and handbook issues are typically procedural and can be clarified in handbooks, but the policy must be explicit about selection method if the board wants an election requirement.

Trustees debated whether the policy should require the board to accept a specific number of student trustees from each school (one vs. two), how to include students from alternative programs (Connect Academy), and whether grade‑point average should be replaced with an attendance or code‑of‑conduct requirement to be more inclusive.

After substantial discussion and multiple proposed language options, trustees voted to send the student‑trustee policy back to the policy committee for revision. Trustees said the committee should incorporate student input, clarify election versus appointment procedures and return the policy for a second reading with suggested language that balances democratic selection with access for students less likely to be elected.