EVERETT — It’s not a novel idea, but it’s an effort by the Everett School Board to remind themselves what’s at stake when they meet.
Two students have been selected to attend each meeting as advisers to the five-member board. The students won’t vote and will be shut out of closed sessions, but they can offer a voice for themselves and their peers to people who make decisions that affect everyday life in school.
“Certainly it’s a reminder of who our most important audience is — our students,” said Jeff Russell, school board president.
School board member Jessica Olson said she wished that the student representatives had been elected by their peers.
“The board wanted to hand-pick the kids,” she said. “That said, I think it’s worthwhile to have student representatives on the board.”
Other school districts around the county already have student representatives include Mukilteo, Granite Falls, Monroe, Shoreline, Arlington, Stanwood-Camano and Edmonds.
The two students appointed to the Everett School Board are Olivia Hollingshead, an Everett High School junior, and Darren Pouv, a senior at Cascade High School.
Hollingshead plans to serve during her junior and senior years of high school, attending the board’s 20 scheduled meetings each year.
Hollingshead, 16, has participated in her school’s swim and golf teams. She’s volunteered with Operation School Bell, which provides clothes to students in need in Snohomish County.
Her class schedule includes American sign language, algebra 2 and chemistry.
Despite the high demands on her time, Hollingshead said doesn’t think it will be a problem to attend the school board meetings. “I can manage my time, get my school work done and be part of the board,” she said.
Pouv, 18, described himself as an inquisitive, hard-working and goal-oriented student. He will serve until the end of the school year.
He is a member of the National Honor Society and is an officer in DECA, which helps prepared students to be leaders in business, marketing and related fields.
His course load includes advanced placement courses in literature and human anatomy. His favorite subject is calculus. He said he spends about six hours a day studying.
Pouv said he sought out the volunteer position so the board could have a sense of student opinion. “I’m trusted by the students and the board members to do the job.”
Russell suggested the appointment of student advisers during his 2009 campaign.
Mukilteo has had three student representatives on the school board for 15 years, beginning in 1996, said Andy Muntz, school district spokesman.
Student representatives make a monthly report to school board members and often ask questions or make comments on issues such as the school district’s budget, he said.
Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com
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