WAITSBURG – Newly elected school board member Russ Knopp would like to see students play an active role in board discussions, and possibly even decision-making. At last week’s board meeting Knopp presented information he gleaned from a recent Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA) workshop. The board expressed interest and directed Knopp to continue researching the possibility of including student representatives on the board.

Knopp listed four reasons to include student representatives on the school board.

Students know stuff. They have good ideas, a different perspective and can be positive contributors to the board.

Being on the board is an authentic, lifelong learning experience. Skills learned from the selection process, serving, collaboration, cooperation, and decision-making are needed throughout life.

It helps move students away from “school is what someone does to us” and instead makes students a part of the decision-making process and a greater part of the school – “the whole thing.”

It gives students the opportunity to learn about school governance and school finance.

Knopp said he had spoken to student reps from several schools and they all spoke highly of the experience.

Knopp said he would like to have two representatives on the board each year – a junior and a senior. After the first year, when they would co-mentor one another, the junior would remain on the board and act as a mentor to the incoming junior.

“There are so many possibilities for what our kids can do and learn,” he said.

Knopp acknowledged that there could be some issues such as students not understanding the importance of confidentiality.

“They would have to be well-trained,” he said. “And if they mess up, we fix it,” he added.

Board Chair Ross Hamann asked if the student reps would be voting members or simply advisors and whether or not they would sit in on executive sessions.

“I think that depends on us. It’s however we want it to work,” Knopp said.

At the WSSDA workshop, Knopp spoke with Adam Fletcher who is the founding director of SoundOut, an organization that promotes meaningful student involvement in schools. Knopp said Fletcher had offered a discounted training session for the Waitsburg board, staff, and administration if they were interested.

The board was interested to learn more and directed Knopp to request more details from Fletcher, such as what the model might look like and how students would be selected.