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In June, 2024, Regent Fran Wills moderated a group discussion focusing on what student board members have learned from their experience. She spoke with current and former student BOE members Elianna Carvalho (Hastings-on-Hudson), Kai Dirksen (Hastings-on-Hudson) and Molly Levitt (Croton-Harmon). The panel provided excellent advice for all school boards whether they are considering the addition of student board members or working to make current student BOE ex-officios more effective.
- How students are chosen for the role varies by school district. Hastings requires a written application and interviews by the current student BOE members. Alternatively, the students elect their representative to the BOE in Croton-Harmon.
- From their experiences, student members suggested several ways to onboard student members and to make them part of the governance team: invite student members to the BOE summer retreat; all read and discuss school governance books/articles (e.g., The Governance Core by Campbell & Fullan); meet regularly with the Superintendent or Board President; and occasionally attend Board sub-committee meetings.
- Student BOE members talked about how they have learned about organization management, educational policy, and have personally improved their public speaking skills and gained a broader perspective on their school district.
- Effective student board members feel as though they are both representing student voice at the board table, while simultaneously providing a broader, Board-level perspective to fellow students through regular reporting to student government.
Governor Hochul has since signed bill S.9018, requiring all school boards to add ex-officio student members by July 1, 2025.
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A Seat at the Board Table (ASBJ - Jan 15, 2024)
Serving on school boards gives students a voice in their schooling and helps school leaders to better understand and support them
