Recent changes in the Placer Union School Board have brought many people’s attention to the interior workings of school districts. One thing individuals may not know is each high school in the Placer Union District has an elected student board member to represent the student body.
Ava Conn, Ruby Mussell, Claire Delany, and Zoe Ordway were elected to be student representatives on the Placer Union High School District board for the 2024-25 school year. Ava Conn, a senior at Placer High School is the student board member for Placer, Confluence, and Maidu Virtual Charter Academy.
“I genuinely love being a student board member and getting to communicate and learn more about the inner workings of our school, especially the stuff that happens behind the scenes,” stated Conn.
California allows a student representative on school district boards. Having a student board member benefits the governing board and the student body by giving an accurate view of students. This position comes with many responsibilities. The student representative must give a perspective of the majority of the student body, and serve a one-year term.
Student board members are required to attend the monthly board meetings. They also meet with the school principal twice a month and coordinate with peers. These meetings vary but normally last around two hours. The student representative must also report major updates and policies about the school.
Conn shared, “Serving as a student board member is definitely a time commitment, but I do not find it overwhelming,” explained Conn.
This position allows students to participate in district decisions, learn essential democratic skills, and advocate for their peers. The elected student must be enrolled in the district they apply for, a high school student, and voted for by the district members. The board member has many duties, including making motions on subjects, questioning during meetings, and meeting training and conferences.
“My involvement in leadership and Key Club are just two ways in which I am able to connect with a wide variety of students. I am also incredibly dedicated to helping others and will always listen to student’s concerns and feedback,” explains Conn.
Placer Union High School District elects one student from each of the high schools in the district to represent. According to the Placer Union High School District website, “The Student Board Member functions as a preferential non-binding voting representative to the Superintendent and the PUHSD Board of Trustees. The Student Board Member provides the PUHSD Governing Body with information regarding student interests, concerns, and ideas thereby enhancing the relevance and effectiveness of many school site and district programs.”
“My favorite part of being a student board member is getting to talk about crucial issues that impact our school and find creative solutions to fix them,” reflects Conn.