Scarsdale 10583: New Law Requires School Boards to Appoint a Non-Voting Student Member
Joanne Wallenstein
September 8, 2024
Beginning in July 2025, School Boards in New York State will now have student representation on the board. Under a new law, signed by Governor Kathy Hochul, school boards will now be required to appoint at least one student ex-officio member who may participate in all public meetings and sit with the other board members. These student members will be non-voting and will not be entitled to participate in Executive sessions or any other non-public proceedings.
The bill was sponsored by Senator Shelley B. Mayer and Assembly Member Carrie Woerner
Prior to this law, districts were allowed to appoint an ex-officio student member, but had to seek approval from voters in their district via a referendum. This legislation simplifies the process, removing the referendum requirement and giving districts greater flexibility about how they appoint members. Further, it will expand opportunities statewide for students to participate in their school board by ensuring every district has at least one student member.
Senator Shelley B. Mayer said, “I am proud my bill to require school districts and BOCES to appoint at least one student non-voting school board member has been signed into law by Governor Hochul. Today, students navigate a myriad of challenges in their lives at home and school. Some of these challenges are familiar to those of us who were high school students decades ago. Others may not be –– the impact of social media, experience of social isolation since the pandemic, or fear and anxiety about the climate crisis. This legislation will ensure that students have a seat at the table where decisions that shape their educational opportunities and experience are made and that members of the Board hear and benefit from their insights as students. I want to thank Assembly Member Woerner for sponsoring this legislation in the Assembly and Governor Kathy Hochul for signing it into law.”
In Scarsdale, board meetings are often lengthy proceedings which occur on weeknights. It will be interesting to see how a student can balance their academic load with the requirements of serving on the school board.