Student Ex-Officio

Student Ex-Officio BOE members for Enewsletter

Kelly Bishop

October 7, 2025

Welcome to Madelyn Pitts and Grace Short as our new student ex-officio BOE members!  We are excited to include them as part of the team, there to represent the student voice on particular issues of interest to the student body.  The ex-officio student position exists to ensure that student perspectives inform board conversations, not to create another voting member or channel for community lobbying. Although they do not have any voting rights, their presence is key to the BOE when making decisions that will directly impact our students.  As this is a new position for the Board of Education, the New York State School Boards Association has provided a brief Dos and Don’ts list for the public to more fully understand the role of the students, which we have listed below:

DO

DON’T

Welcome the student member as a bridge between the students and the Board.

Ask the student member to take sides or advocate for individual issues. They represent student issues - not personal or family concerns. 

Treat the student with the same courtesy and professionalism as any board representative.

Share confidential or sensitive matters with the student members.

Direct student-related ideas or feedback through established channels (student council, building administrators, or board clerk), not personal messages.  Student members have school emails for this purpose.

Expect the student to participate in executive sessions or personnel discussions.

Understand that the student may attend public portions of board meetings only— they do not attend executive sessions.

Use the student role to influence board decisions or political discussions. This position is strictly educational and advisory in nature.

Recognize that participation is primarily advisory.

Hold the student accountable for board actions or district decisions. They are contributors - not policymakers.

Encourage students to engage through surveys, forums, and conversations organized by the student member or their advisors (building principal and superintendent).

💡 Purpose in Plain Language

The ex officio student position exists to ensure that student perspectives inform board conversations, not to create another voting member or channel for community lobbying.

By respecting the boundaries of the role, we allow our student members to focus on what matters most — bringing thoughtful, informed student insight into district governance.