Students defend school board representatives as public comments split; policy to codify student reps tabled for revision

Dozens of public commenters—many of them high‑school students—told the board they support student representatives and want the district to preserve student voice in board discussions.

Annika Walsh, a current student representative, described the application and interview process used to select student reps and said representatives circulate agendas, poll students and report to student council. “We spend our time to represent students who might not be in our social circle,” Walsh said during public comment, asking the board to codify the role.

Several students and community members said adult critics at a prior meeting had publicly belittled the student reps and that board members failed to defend them. “Not one of you said a thing,” a student speaker told the board, urging members to support the students. Other commenters urged the board to meet students at events and not just at meetings.

The board considered Policy 004, the proposed membership policy to formalize student representatives, as a first reading. Board members said they support codifying student participation but also requested clearer language, role descriptions and expectations. The board voted to move five PSBA‑template policies to second reading but tabled Policy 004 for further drafting and clarification so the policy can be expanded to specify expectations, selection, opt‑in/opt‑out processes and reporting lines.

No disciplinary or punitive actions against student representatives were taken at the meeting; the decision to table Policy 004 leaves student representation active in practice while administrators and board members refine the draft policy.