U-46 board of education may add a student trustee

Come April, the Elgin Area School District U-46 board may add an eighth member - a high school student.

According to a presentation by Superintendent Jose Torres Monday night, principals from the district's five high schools and from the Gifford Street Alternative Program each would this spring submit the names of two high school juniors to be considered by the superintendent's student advisory council for the role.

Applications must include a letter of reference from a faculty member, the student's transcripts and an essay explaining why the student would be a good nominee for the position.

The advisory council would then choose several individuals to be considered by the board, a "truly student-led process," Torres said.

Board members would make the final selection of the student board member and an alternate.

Terms would last one year, beginning and ending in April.

Because state law prohibits allowing a student board member to vote, he or she would serve only in an advisory capacity.

Besides attending meetings, duties would include sharing opinions of the district's students through regular reports and keeping the advisory council up-to-date with school board decisions.

The position would be unpaid, though not without recognition.

If approved Monday, Jan. 26, U-46 would be the first Fox Valley district to appoint a student to its board, Torres said.

To date, seven local districts have student trustees: Batavia School District 101, Niles Township High School District 219, East Aurora District 131, Naperville District 203, Warren Township High School District 121, West Aurora School District 129 and Wheaton-Warrenville District 200.