Howard County students pushing for partial voting rights on the School Board will have to wait a little longer.
Instead of voting on the entire student representation policy, board members agreed on topics the student board member can and cannot vote on.
“There are federally protected records … including medical records and discipline letters that wouldn?t be appropriate for students” to have knowledge of,” said Board Chairman Joshua Kaufman at the Thursday board meeting.
The entire policy will be voted on at a later meeting.
Once approved, the policy will lay the groundwork for extending voting power to the student board member for the first time in the School Board?s history. Currently, the Howard student member only has an opinion vote.
State legislation also must pass to boost the student member?s voting rights, beginning in the 2007-08 school year.
“We?re making progress, and the legislation that we present will mirror that in Montgomery, Baltimore and Prince George?s counties,” said Roger Plunkett, the school system?s business, community, and government relations officer.
Board members said they did not support the student member voting on:
?Capital and operating budgets
?Redistricting
?Collective bargaining
?Appointment, term and salary of the superintendent
?Suspension or dismissal of teachers
?Student appeals
In addition to many other matters, the board said yes to bids and contracts and land acquisitions.
Personnel appointments and transfers will be discussed at the next board meeting after review by Mark Blom, the school system?s attorney.
“We?re going to keep moving forward,” said Joshua Michael, student member of the state Board of Education and a senior at Centennial High School.
Wossen Ayele, the newly elected student member of the Howard County School Board, said, “It?s a minor setback, but I understand where the board is coming from.”
Vote
The Howard County School Board is expected to vote on a student representationpolicy at 4 p.m. May 25 during its regular meeting at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108, Ellicott City.
