Date: Fri 08-May-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: MICHEL

Quick Words:

school-board-student-rep

Full Text:

Bid For Student Representative On School Board Draws Interest But No

Commitment

BY MICHELE HOGAN

Newtown High School senior Todd Burns made a presentation to the Board of

Education this week requesting two student representatives on the Newtown

school board.

Under Todd's proposal, the student representatives, one senior and one junior,

would be selected on the basis of an essay contest and an interview. Their

role on the board would be to read up on issues and provide input from the

student perspective.

However, due to state regulations, the student board members would not be

allowed to vote.

Todd said this idea has drawn favorable responses from students and faculty at

the high school and in other districts such as Danbury and New Milford, where

students are represented on boards.

Amy Dent, chairman of the Board of Education, noted, however, that Brookfield

Board of Education used to have student representatives but have now dropped

the program.

The Board of Education expressed a willingness to pursue the matter, yet

questioned why, if students are interested in policy-making, they so rarely

attend the public board meetings.

Todd explained that he didn't know until last year that the meetings were

public.

The high school senior said that he wants students to have the opportunity to

be involved in decisions that directly affect them.

Elaine McClure, board member, explained that the Board of Education is a

policy-making body, rather than a management body. She noted the management

issues, which often have a strong and immediate impact on students, are made

within the schools.

Mrs McClure cited the example of the new modified block scheduling recently

adopted at the high school. She said that the Board of Education did not have

a say in that decision because it was a management issue rather than a policy

issue.

She said, "I'd like to have you come and watch us, and see if we are doing

things that interest you."

Mrs McClure pointed out that student representation to boards can work. She

described how in Switzerland she worked with teachers, students, principals,

parents and the equivalent to the superintendent of schools on an effective

board.

However, with a six-member Board of Education now, two additional student

members would mean that 25 percent of the board would be students. If students

were added, Mrs McClure questioned, "What about parent and teacher

representation?"

Todd countered that he expects that there already is some parental

representation, because "many of you are parents, too." He also reiterated

that "these decisions are made about students."

There is also a question of the Board of Education charter.

If adding non-voting student members would require a change in the charter for

the Board of Education, then the issue would have to go before the Legislative

Council, which initiates the charter revision process.