1250 - Student Representatives to the Board of Directors

The Richland School District Board of Directors (the Board) realizes the goal of public schools is to educate all students and seeks the input, feedback, and experience of students in the District. Therefore, the Board has created an advisory Board position for up to two Student Representatives enrolled in a Richland School District High School. The role of the student representative(s) will be: 

• Provide student insight and perspective to the Board and District administration and assist the Board in understanding student issues, 
• Serve as a liaison to the students in the district through the established student government and communication networks; and 
• Report to the students about the work of the school district and the Board. 

The Student Representative(s) will be bound by all applicable rules and regulations pertaining to the elected Board members as outlined in the policy. The Student Representative(s) will participate in Board discussion, but will not have the right to make motions, hold Board offices or attend Executive Sessions. However, student reps may make advisory votes. 

Purpose 

1. The purpose of the student representative(s) to the School Board is to serve as a liaison between the governing body of the district and high school students. 
2. Up to two high school student representatives from different schools, a Junior and a Senior will serve as liaisons to the Board. The student representative(s) will provide insight and support to improve the Board’s understanding of student issues and perspectives. Helping the Board to better understand the impact of our decisions. 
3. The student representative(s) shall represent all the high schools and all students throughout the district in accordance with the following qualifications, selection procedures, and responsibilities. 

Term of Office 

1. The representative(s) shall be selected in the spring of the current year, for the following year. 
2. The term of office for the high school senior will be one school year, beginning in August and concluding in June. The high school junior can serve their senior year, making it a two-year term. Either the representative or the board can decline the second year. Regardless of the tenure, the junior representative will be asked to assist with onboarding the new representative(s). 
3. If there is a vacancy during the school year, a student may be selected from a list of qualified applicants to serve the remaining term. 

Qualifications for Application 

1. The student representative(s) must be a full-time student in the Richland School District in grades 11 and 12 during their term as the student representative(s). 
2. The student representative(s) must be of proper academic standing equivalent for participation in athletics or other student activities and maintain proper academic standing throughout his or her term. 
3. The student representative(s) will be expected to maintain personal standards of behavior appropriate to participate in student activities. 
4. The student representative(s) must be willing to convey student opinions in a non-biased manner to the Board of Directors and report Board deliberations and actions to the student body. 

Application Process 

1. Students will submit a complete Student Representative Application to the Richland School District Board of Directors’ selection committee. 
2. Students must obtain approval signatures from their parents and respective High School principal. 
3. Students must submit two (2) recommendation letters, at least one from a District teacher or administrator. 
4. Selected applicants will be interviewed by no more than two School Board Directors, the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent of Secondary, and the current Student Representatives. The selection committee will recommend the student representative(s) finalist(s) to the Board of Directors for final approval. 
5. The decision by the Board will be final. There is no right to appeal the decision. 

Removal 

1. The student representatives serve at the discretion of the Board. 
2. The Board may remove the student representatives for failure to fulfill his or her duties, failure to be enrolled as a full-time student, failure to maintain academic standards, or for behaviors that the Board deems unacceptable as a member of the Board or embarrassing to the district. 
3. The absence of the student representative from four consecutive regular meetings, unless on account of sickness or excused absence, shall be sufficient cause for the student representee to be removed. 

Responsibilities of the Student Representative 

The student representatives will: 

1. Adhere to all the rules and regulations pertaining to Board members as written in policy. 
2. Attend all regular Board meetings, which occur while school is in session. Since regular Board meetings occur during the evening hours of a school night, the Board may grant permission for the student representative to leave a meeting after the conclusion of the student report has been given. Regular Board meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room at the Teaching, Learning & Administration Center (TLAC) located at 6972 Keene Road, in West Richland. The student representative will request that absences be excused by the Board when the student representative is unable to attend. 
3. Attend special meetings or workshop sessions if requested, excluding Executive Sessions. 
4. Review the Board packet and reading materials prior to all regular Board meetings. 
5. Participate in the discussion at regular, open meetings of the Board when applicable. However, the student representative may not make any motions. Student representatives will be asked for an advisory vote prior to the vote of the board. 
6. Provide reports to the Board during the agenda item titled “Student Representative Report.” The reports may include student activities, topics, and concerns. 
7. Students will abide by the school Code of Conduct. 
8. Report Board deliberations and actions to the various Student Councils throughout the School District as applicable. 
9. Assist with the onboarding of new student representative(s) 
10. Participate in Board training sessions, when requested, such as the WSSDA (Washington State School Directors’ Association) Annual Conference and Legislative Assembly. When these sessions occur on school days, student representatives will follow the established, prearranged absence procedures at the high school as they are for all school related activities. 
11. Student representatives will attend the Superintendent’s student advisory group meetings to gain additional student insight and network with fellow peers. 
12. Student representatives are expected to actively engage with fellow students and student organizations throughout the district, as time allows, to establish a continuity of communication between the students we serve and the Board. 
13. Representatives will participate in the WSSDA Student Representative networking Council. 

Responsibilities of the Board of Directors 

The Board of Directors will: 

1. Select and appoint up to two High School students as the representatives to the School Board. 
2. Select one board member to support and serve as the point of contact for the student representative(s). The board member contact may change at the discretion of the board. Students will be notified if the board mentor changes. Board member mentor will meet with the student representative(s) at the beginning of the school year to review expectations, responsibilities and participation. Board member mentor will meet with the student representative(s) quarterly to assess their experience and plan for future activities. 
3. A board member will be present at all meetings with district personnel except the Superintendent Student Advisory Council meetings. 

Duties of the Secretary/Clerk of the Board

The superintendent as board secretary shall be responsible for: 

The superintendent shall also be the clerk of the board and perform the legal duties required of a school board clerk under state law. 

The superintendent shall exercise all other duties and responsibilities authorized by law and by district polices. 

Legal References

RCW 28A.400.030 Superintendent’s duties 

Adoption

Adopted: March 24, 1987
Revised: May 9, 2006