On May 18, voters will decide whether the Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District Board of Education will continue the practice of including a non-voting student member on the board.
In 2019, voters approved a proposition to include an ex-officio student board member, which they must reauthorize every two years. There is no financial compensation for any board member, including a student member. Students serve for a one-year period, attend all public board meetings and are allowed to participate in all public discussions and voice their opinions.
“Having a student involved in board discussions has allowed the administration and board members to more efficiently hear what issues and concerns are facing our students,” Superintendent Peter Smith said.
The student does not attend executive or exempt sessions, which are portions of the meeting in which the law allows board members to privately discuss such matters as proposed, pending or current litigation.
If approved, J-D High School students will annually elect their representative, who must be a high school senior and have been in good standing with the district for at least two years.