U-46 board announces student trustee picks

A week after three school board incumbents were re-elected to 4-year terms April 7, finalists for the Elgin Area School District U-46 student board member seat were announced Monday night.

The announcement marked the culmination of a three-month internal selection process.

Principals' student advisory committees from the district's five high schools and the Gifford Street Alternative Program each submitted the names of two juniors to be considered for the role by the superintendent's student advisory council.

The superintendent's advisory council then chose three nominees to be considered by the board, and they ranked them.

Andrew Boston, of South Elgin High School, is the council's top choice for the new role.

Boston is active in the school's student government association, in the top 1 percent of his class and a member of the National Honor Society and the Pay It Forward Service Across America program, according to South Elgin High School Principal Melanie Meidel.

The student advisory council's second pick was Allison Prang of Bartlett High School. Prang is the editor-in-chief of the Hawk Eye, Bartlett's student newspaper; a student council and Key Club member; and a baton twirler.

Larkin High School's Antonio Smith was the third student selected. Smith, according to Principal Richard Webb, "is able to see the larger picture of events."

Recent administrative changes at the east Elgin school prompted Smith "to ask questions about what the changes would mean for Larkin as a school, and for (Smith) on a personal level," Webb said.

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

In addition to attending meetings, duties will include sharing opinions of the district's students through regular reports and keeping the advisory council up-to-date with school board decisions. Terms last one year, beginning and ending in May.

Board members will make the final selection of the student board member and an alternate at their meeting Monday, April 27. Individuals will be sworn in Monday, May 4.

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.

Finalists: Student trustee won't be able to vote