Bylaw 9150 - Student Board Representatives

In order to enhance communication and collaboration between the Board and the student body and to teach students the importance of civic involvement, the Board supports the participation of high school students in district governance.

 

Student Board representatives(s) shall be entitled to be reimbursed for mileage to the same extent as other members of the Board but shall not receive monetary compensation for attendance at Board meetings.

 

A student Board representative shall not be liable for any acts of the Board.

 

A student Board representative shall be chosen by students enrolled in the district's high schools in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Board, which is currently the high school student body president or designee.

 

The term of student Board representative (s) shall be one year, commencing on July 1. However, the Board may adjust the term of a student Board representative only if a vacancy occurs or in order to give more students an opportunity to serve on the Board.

 

Student Board representatives shall not be considered members of a legislative body for purposes of the Brown Act.

 

A student Board representative shall not be counted in determining the vote required to carry any measure before the Board or whether a quorum is in attendance at a Board meeting.

 

Student Board representative(s) shall have the right to attend all Board meetings except closed sessions.

 

All materials presented to Board members, except those related to closed sessions, shall be presented to student Board representatives at the same time they are presented to other Board members. Student Board representative(s) shall also be invited to attend staff briefings or be provided with a separate staff briefing within the same timeframe as the briefing of other Board members. In addition, all materials given to Board members by the district between meetings, except for materials that pertain to closed session items, shall be distributed to student Board representatives. Student Board representative(s) shall be recognized at Board meetings as full member(s), shall be seated with other members of the Board, and shall be allowed to participate in questioning witnesses and discussing issues.

 

Student Board representative(s) shall be allowed to cast preferential votes on all matters except those subject to closed session discussion, such as items involving contract/personnel items. Preferential voting means a formal expression of opinion that is recorded in the minutes and cast before the official vote of the Board. Preferential votes shall not affect the final numerical outcome of a vote.

 

Student Board representative(s) may make motions that may be acted upon by the Board, except on matters dealing with employer-employee relations pursuant to Government Code 3540-3549.3.

 

Student Board representatives shall be appointed to subcommittees of the Board in the same manner as other Board members and shall be made aware of the time commitment required to participate in subcommittee meetings and work and of the right to decline an appointment. The availability of all subcommittee members, including the availability of student Board representatives, may be considered when scheduling subcommittee meetings.

 

Student Board representatives shall be invited to attend functions of the Board, such as forums, meetings with students and parents/guardians, and other general assemblies.

 

The Superintendent or designee may, at District expense, provide learning opportunities to student Board representatives through trainings, workshops, and conferences, such as those offered by the California School Boards Association and other organizations, to enhance their knowledge, understanding, and performance of leadership skills and their Board responsibilities.

 

The Superintendent or designee may periodically provide information to student Board representative candidates to give them an understanding of the position. Once chosen or appointed, incoming student Board representatives shall be provided an orientation designed to build knowledge of the District and an understanding of the responsibilities and expectations of the position.

 

If the Board determines that the student Board representative's duties are not being fulfilled, the Board may appoint another student to serve out the term of the student Board representative. If an alternate student Board representative is appointed, the Board shall suspend the prior student Board representative's rights and privileges related to service on the Board.

 

Once established, the student Board representative position shall continue to exist until the Board, by majority vote of all voting Board members, approves a motion to eliminate the position. Such a motion shall be listed as a public agenda item for a Board meeting prior to the motion being voted upon.