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THREAD in support of Student Members on Boards of Eduction
I served as the first voting student member of the @annearundelboe in Anne Arundel Co., MD.
A Statement from Former Howard County SMOBs by @adejireb https://link.medium.com/seK0srVkscb 1/
I served as the first voting student member of the @annearundelboe in Anne Arundel Co., MD.
A Statement from Former Howard County SMOBs by @adejireb https://link.medium.com/seK0srVkscb 1/
Anne Arundel County was the first county in MD to establish the position through state law. Then Sen. Robert Pascal introduced the bill in 1974 to create a voting position. The bill passed the Senate and House, but was amended to remove the vote. #SupportTheSMOB 2/
In 1974-75, Jeff Robinson, a senior in Andover High School, served as the first student member on the @annearundelboe in a non-voting capacity. His service was exemplary. #SupportTheSMOB 3/
During the election of 1974, I spoke with Michael Wagner, a candidate for the MD House of Delegates and asked if he would be willing to support a bill to give the student member a vote. He indicated that he would. #SupportTheSMOB 4/
Wagner was elected and I contacted him and asked if he would introduce the bill to give the student member a vote. Delegate Wagner, a Democrat, joined with Delegate Robert Neall, a Republican, to co-sponsor a bill to give the student member a vote. #SupportTheSMOB 5/
The bill passed both the House and the Senate, but then the current adult members of the @annearundelboe opposed the bill, contending it violated state law regarding a prohibition of a person under the authority of the board from serving on the board. #SupportTheSMOB 6/
I then spoke with an Assistant State Attorney General who chatted with me and provided me an opinion that had been written for a similar case; he indicated that the new law would supersede that provision of state law, and would thus be lawful. #SupportTheSMOB 7/
I then sent a letter to George Asaki, Chair of the Board, noting this opinion. Nonetheless, a veto hearing was scheduled before Governor Marvin Mandel in the spring of 1975. #SupportTheSMOB 8/
At the veto hearing, I spoke and coordinated the proponents of the bill. Also supporting was one current adult Board member, Maureen Lamb, and the student member Jeff Robinson. Board Member Beverly Zimmerman testified against the bill. #SupportTheSMOB 9/
At the hearing, I emphasized that the student member did not "represent" the county students, but was rather on the board to provide the unique viewpoint of a student. #SupportTheSMOB 10/
The Governor asked the current student member, Jeff Robinson, if the vote would have made a difference. Jeff indicated that it might have indeed made a difference. #SupportTheSMOB 11/
Some days passed and Governor Mandel signed the bill, given the student member on the @annearundelboe a vote. On July 1, 1975, I began serving as the first student member with a vote. 12/
In my service on the Board, one thing I emphasized is that I was "just another member" who happened to be a student. I had a different perspective as a student, but wanted to be treated as any other member. #SupportTheSMOB 13/
Over the course of the next year, I was involved in budget deliberations, staff and faculty appointments, the re-appointment of the superintendent, negotiations with unions, capital projects, as well as discussion of educational policy. #SupportTheSMOB 14/
It was certainly a great learning experience for me, but I believe I was able to make a positive-- and unique-- contribution to the work of the @annearundelboe. #SupportTheSMOB 15/
Since 1976, student positions on county and state board of education have proliferated throughout the United States. Undoubtedly, some have been more successful than others, but the underlying argument in support of the position remains strong. #SupportTheSMOB 16/
As a current student, a student board member sees a different side of the educational process. They know what is happening in the class room *right now*; they know what life is like in school *right now.* #SupportTheSMOB 17/
While all the board members at one time had a school experience, they are not currently in school and do not have direct unmediated experience of what is happening *right now*. #SupportTheSMOB 18/
This direct exposure to what is happening *right now* provides a vital insight that can help the board make the best decisions about educational policy. The student member, in other words, can help the board's decisions better. #SupportTheSMOB 19/
Currently, as noted in the attachment at the beginning of this thread, there is a legal challenge to the Howard County's Student Member. Some country parents are claiming that the State law creating the student position violates the Maryland Constitution. #SupportTheSMOB 20/
For reference, here is the bill that created the voting student position in Howard County-- https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Search/Legislation?target=/2007RS/billfile/hb0513.htm #SupportTheSMOB 21/
And here is an article in the @baltimoresun describing the law suit. l #SupportTheSMOB 22/ https://www.baltimoresun.com/education/bs-md-student-board-lawsuit-20201216-hu6yi6nz2jas5lr7vsojncofjq-story.html
I suspect it goes without saying, that I strongly support voting student positions on board of education for the reasons noted above in this thread. #SupportTheSMOB 23/
I am not an expert in this area of the law, but I am not certain the parents would have standing, and even if they did, it doesn't seem like they have a good case on the merits-- a challenge based on a claim that the law violates the State Constitution #SupportTheSMOB 24/
As a matter of education policy, however, I am convinced that student positions on boards make for better decision making. The serve as examples of a collaborative educational community where all work together to improve the learning process and environment. #SupportTheSMOB END/
