RANDOLPH — Following a statewide bill approved by the state legislature in May, Randolph Central School’s Board of Education has implemented a process to elect student representatives to the board, which is now required by the state.

BOCES governing boards will also be required to have at least one student representative. For BOCES with 11 to 20 component districts, two student board members would be required, and for BOCES with more than 20 component districts, three students would be required.

Each student board member must be a high school student who has been enrolled at least a year. Local school districts and BOCES will determine how student board members are selected. The bill requires that each student board member must be at least one of the following: the student body president, a student selected by the high school student government, a student selected by the high school principal, a student selected by the superintendent, or a student selected by majority vote of the school board.

Student school board members would not be empowered to vote or attend executive sessions or be able to attend any meeting or hearing that is not open to the public. Currently, about a third of school districts and BOCES have non-voting student board members, according to a NYSSBA poll of district clerks conducted in March. Voters approved the creation of each of those student positions in accordance with current law. The new bill would repeal the voter approval requirement.

“The New York State Legislature has enacted a new law requiring the inclusion of student representatives on all public school boards across the state,” Superintendent Kaine Kelly said. “This legislation aims to ensure that students have a direct voice in the governance and decision-making processes that impact their education.”

Kelly outlined the key points of the law, which include each public school board must appoint at least one student representative as a non-voting member, student representatives will be selected through student elections or appointments, based on the policies of each school district, and these representatives will attend board meetings, participate in discussions, and provide valuable insights from the student body’s perspective.

“The inclusion of student representatives will bring firsthand student experiences and viewpoints into board discussions, leading to more informed and responsive decision-making,” Kelly said. “Schools are required to provide orientation and ongoing mentorship to support student representatives in their roles, ensuring they can effectively contribute. This initiative promotes a more inclusive and democratic school governance structure, empowering students to actively participate in shaping their educational environment.”

The law will take effect at the beginning of the next school year, and school districts are currently preparing to integrate student representatives into their boards, with training and support systems being put in place, Kelly said.

Minimum qualifications for a student to be an ex-officio member of Randolph Central School’s Board of Education are as follows: the student must be a junior or senior at Randolph Central High School, ensuring they have sufficient experience and maturity to contribute effectively, the student must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 or equivalent, demonstrating academic responsibility and capability, the student must have a good attendance record, reflecting their commitment and reliability, the student must have a clean disciplinary record, showing they adhere to school policies and exhibit appropriate behavior, the student must be actively involved in school activities, such as clubs, sports, or other extracurricular programs, indicating their engagement with the school community, the student should have demonstrated leadership qualities, either through holding positions in student organizations, participating in leadership programs, or other relevant experiences, the student must express a genuine interest in school governance and demonstrate an understanding of the role and responsibilities of the Board of Education, the student must provide at least one recommendation from a teacher, administrator, or counselor who can attest to their suitability for the role, the student must complete an application form and submit an essay explaining why they want to serve on the Board, what they hope to achieve, and how they plan to represent their peers, and the student must obtain parental/guardian consent to participate in the Board of Education as an ex-officio member.

More information on the new legislation and its implementation can be found on the New York State Department of Education’s website.

“This law represents a significant step towards recognizing and valuing student contributions in the educational decision-making process,” Kelly said. “The Randolph BOE was clear in their desire for the selection process to be one that is driven by the students and for the rep to be a true representative of the student body. The Administrative team will now work on a process for the selection of this student through a student election.”