FAIRFAX - School board members here will add two student representatives to their ranks.
D. Scott Lang, Bellows Free Academy, Fairfax grades 6-12 principal, today commended the board on its initiative, saying he expects students to bring a true sense of commitment to the task.
Under the policy, adopted at a meeting Monday evening, two students will join the board as non-voting members who, unless otherwise directed by adult members, will be excused from executive sessions. Terms will run for two years.
The student representatives will be selected by the student council on nominations submitted to it. Rather than have a school-wide election that might turn into a popularity contest, Lang said the council decided to hand select students who are committed to doing their best.
The principal said the move toward student school directors is in line with efforts here to have students become more invested in their education and community.
The principal said he would expect students to bring topics important to them to the school board, and to provide a student perspective on other issues, as well as what is happening in the school.
While students will not have voting privileges, that power is not ruled out in the future. According to Lang, a town charter revision would be required to permit that.
Students already play a role in the selection of new teachers, said Lang. In the screening process, BFA has teachers, administrators, and students sit down with candidates.
Lang said students have proven to be "extremely astute" in their observations about teacher applicants. In some cases, he said, they have caused the adults to rethink their first impressions and hire the students' preferred candidate.
"And they've been right," said Lang in regard to the student's track record on selecting good teachers.
The student council will now undertake the job of selecting two representatives for the school board -- perhaps a sophomore and a junior.
Lang said he would expect students may attend their first school board meeting as members in January.
School director Glenn McNall, who could not be reached for comment this morning, first brought the idea to school directors' attention, said Lang.
Missisquoi Valley Union high school added student representation to its board last year; Enosburg Falls High school did so two years ago.