The students won’t have a vote but they will definitely have a voice.
The Sedona-Oak Creek School District voted unanimously on Tuesday, Feb. 2, to proceed with choosing a student representative on the board, a first for the district. The plan is to have someone in place by March.
The position will be open to those students who will be juniors in the fall. It will be a two-year commitment with the term ending in March of the chosen student’s senior year. Because seniors have so much going on as they finish their high school career, Superintendent Dennis Dearden feels this will be one less thing on their senior plate.
“It’s important that they make a two-year commitment and not many students are able to do that,” Dearden said the day after the meeting.
Now that the board has made the position official, the school will post the opening for about two weeks. Each student who applies will be asked to fill out an application of sorts and answer six questions. These include why they want to do it, why they feel they’re qualified and what they think are some of the biggest topics facing students right now in the district.
“This gives them a voice but it also reminds the rest of us as to why we’re here, and that’s the students,” Dearden said. “So, their voice is very important. They will be part of the team.”
Dearden will narrow down the applications and along with Board President Randy Hawley, Vice President Lauren Robinson and Assistant Superintendent Deana DeWitt will make the final selection. The student will not have a vote or be allowed to sit in on executive session matters. However, Dearden envisions the representative having a spot to speak on the monthly board agenda, similar to his superintendent’s update.
The student will sit on the dais with the other board members and can be called upon for their input throughout the meetings.
“We have some very good kids so I’m confident that we will find the right student for the position,” Dearden said. “We had a student rep in several of the districts I’ve worked for and it’s been very successful but it does take a certain type of individual to make it successful.”
Sophomore Hunter White worked closely with Dearden to come up with the plan for the student representative position but it was not stated at the meeting if he intends to throw his hat in the ring.
“I think it’s incredibly important from a student standpoint to understand the weight of the position in representing the 600-plus kids we have in our district,” Green said to the board.
