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Should a Prince Edward County High student serve on the school board? That question was brought up during the group’s Wednesday, Aug. 7 meeting. Susan Kimbrough raised the question, pointing out that a number of students over the last year especially have said they don’t feel heard. 

“I think it sends a message the Prince Edward County School Board cares about you,” Kimbrough said. “We want to hear you. We want to hear your concerns and we want you to become involved in government. Frankly, the decisions we make every month affect them the most.” 

Kimbrough went through the standard practice of how this is done, where a rising 11th or 12th grader applies for the role, with certain criteria. They have to maintain a specific grade point average in some cases. They can’t have a number of discipline issues. Then some school boards interview the candidates and choose one, while others let the students vote on who they want to represent them on the board. 

“This teaches our students how real democracy works,” Kimbrough said. 

She suggested turning the idea over to the school board’s policy committee, which could put together a structure for how this would work. Then the school board could vote on the idea later this year. 

School board member Dr. James Arieti said he would be in favor, but wanted to make sure students picked the person who would serve. 

“I think it would have a more positive reception among the students if they were allowed to elect their representative rather than have them appointed,” Arieti said. 

Prince Edward board considers plan

Board member Elzora Stiff pointed out that the idea has worked and worked well in other places for many years. Baltimore City Schools, for example, has a student on the school board, she said. Stiff also pointed out that when she first got on the Prince Edward board, she suggested the idea. 

“Because I thought then as I do now, that it is a positive move which would allow our students to be in leadership roles,” Stiff said. 

Everyone else echoed support for the concept, with Doug Farley wanting to take it one step farther. Instead of just adding a student, why not add a student representative and a teacher representative, he asked. 

Kimbrough said she would research how other school districts have handled a teacher representative on the board and come back with that information. She also said the policy committee would look to be swift in putting something together. 

“We will do a diligent job of coming up with a policy to bring to you,” Kimbrough said. “We also are not going to draw this out for a long time.” 

She said her goal would be for board members to have something to discuss and vote on later this year, with the possibility of a student representative being chosen by January.