Grand Ledge board establishes Student Advisory Committee to formalize student voice

The Grand Ledge Public Schools Board of Education on July 13 unanimously approved a Student Advisory Committee intended to create a formal channel for student voice in district decisions. The motion was made by Board Member Nicole Shannon and seconded by Dr. Toni Glasscoe.

Board members discussed the committee’s structure and adopted a friendly amendment to Section II, Subsection B, Item 4 to allow the President of the Board, Ashley Kuykendoll, and/or one additional board member to serve as board liaisons and attend Student Advisory Committee meetings. The amendment was offered by Ms. Shannon and supported by Dr. Glasscoe prior to the final vote.

Superintendent Dr. William Barnes told the board the governance committee had reviewed the proposal and discussed how administrative presentations and board Q&A might be streamlined to incorporate student input. The board did not place conditions on the committee’s authority in the meeting minutes; details such as membership size, selection process and meeting frequency were included in the approved proposal packet but not itemized in the minutes.

The board approved the committee as presented; the motion carried unanimously. The next steps identified by the governance committee include finalizing membership criteria and scheduling the committee’s initial meeting, though specific dates were not noted in the minutes.