Documents › Board of Education, 2026-02-12

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Also attached to this agenda item: Policy 1310--Staff Participation in Political...

2125 EX-OFFICIO STUDENT TRUSTEES The Board of Education recognizes that the student body has direct knowledge and experience of the District’s schools, and an interest in making contributions to the Board for the future benefit of the entire District. The Board also recognizes that improved communication between the student body and the Board can lead to procedural, as well as substantive, improvements in the school system. Positions of Ex-Officio Student Trustee and Associate Ex-Officio Student Trustee In 2021, the voters of the district, by referendum, authorized the establishment of the position of Ex-Officio Non-Voting Student Trustee, which position subsequently became required by statute. By this policy, the Board establishes two Ex-Officio Student Trustee positions—one to be held by a Croton-Harmon High School (“CHHS”) student in their senior year (the Ex-Officio Student Trustee), and the other to be held by a CHHS student in their junior year (the Associate Ex-Officio Student Trustee).Service in each of these two Ex-Officio Student Trustee positions will commence in the 2026-2027 school year. The primary responsibilities of such Ex-Officio Student Trustees are to ensure that the Board is made aware of the issues of significance to the student body and, at the same time, to participate in discussions at Board meetings to the extent permitted by law. The Board believes that the Ex-Officio Student Trustees will: 1. provide students with an opportunity to express their voices, share their perspectives on matters before the Board, , and have an effect on Board decisions; 2. provide for the Board and students a vehicle through which they may exchange information and learn from one another; and 3. provide an opportunity for students to gain experience with governance and leadership. Specifically, Ex-Officio Student Trustees are expected to: 1. Bring a student perspective to the Board’s discussions through reports to the Board; 2. Represent the student body on the Board; 3. Report back to the student body on the Board’s actions; and 4. Solicit input from students on matters affecting the District, at the request of the Board. Term of Office Except as set forth in the next paragraph, each Ex-Officio Student Trustee will serve for a period of two (2) years, commencing on July 1 preceding the start of their junior year and ending on the June 30th two years after commencement of such service—for the junior year in the position of Associate Ex-Officio Student Trustee and for the senior year in the position of Ex-Officio Student Trustee. Deleted: NON-VOTING Deleted: TRUSTEE Deleted: The Board of Education believes that regular and frequent contact between the Board, the Superintendent of Schools and the high school student body can be of significant benefit in improving communication in the school district. The primary purpose of such student trustee shall be to ensure that the Board shall be aware of the issues critical to the student body and, at the same time, to participate in discussions at Board meetings to the extent permitted by law. Deleted: Establishment of Deleted: Position Deleted: Non-Voting Deleted: The Deleted: have Deleted: (“Student Trustee”) Deleted: This position shall continue unless the position is abolished by a subsequent referendum or by a resolution of the Board.… Deleted: The Deleted: shall Deleted: term Deleted: one (1) year Deleted: succeeding Deleted: . For the 2026-2027 school year or in the event the Associate Ex-Officio Student Trustee position becomes vacant and the vacant position is to be filled by the Board through the selection process described below, the Ex-Officio Student Trustee (a senior) will serve for a term of one (1) year. Qualifications for Service as an Ex-Officio Student Trustee or Associate Ex-Officio Student Trustee The Associate Ex-Officio Student Trustee (a junior) must have attended CHHS for a minimum of one (1) year preceding the date they commence service as an Ex-Officio Student Trustee. The Ex-Officio Student Trustee (a senior) must have attended CHHS for a minimum of two (2) years preceding the year date they commence service as an Ex-Officio Student Trustee. The Ex-Officio Student Trustee may not be an officer of the CHHS Student-Faculty Congress (“SFC”) or an officer of any class. Selection of Ex-Officio Student Trustees The selection of the Associate Ex-Officio Student Trustee will occur during the spring semester preceding the commencement date of such service. Except for the 2026-2027 school year, the Associate Ex-Officio Student Trustee will succeed to the position of Ex-Officio Student Trustee in their senior year, For the selection of the Ex-Officio Student Trustee for the 2026-2027 school year or for the filling of the Ex-Officio Student Trustee position because of the vacancy in the position of Associate Ex-Officio Student Trustee occurring prior to March 31st of any year, the selection will occur during the spring semester preceding the commencement date of such service. The selection of the Ex-Officio Student Trustee(s) will be made by the Board of Education through the following process, which will be overseen by the SFC: students interested in serving as a Ex-Officio Student Trustee will be invited to submit a nominating petition to the SFC signed by at least twenty (20) current CHHS students, with a minimum of two (2) students from each grade, letters of recommendation from at least two (2) members of the CHHS faculty, and a statement of candidacy in which the candidate sets forth their qualifications for the Ex-Officio Student Trustee position being sought and additional information they believe would be relevant to consideration of their candidacy. The SFC will determine the date on which nominating petitions, letters of recommendation, and statements of candidacy are due and will inform the CHHS student body sufficiently in advance of that deadline to provide opportunity for interested students to prepare and submit their nominating petitions and additional materials. The CHHS building principal will determine whether the candidate meets the qualifications for service as an Ex-Officio Student Trustee (specifically, whether the candidate will have attended CHHS for the required minimum period prior to commencement of service). The SFC will provide each nomination petition and additional materials to the President of the Board of Education. The Board of Education (or a committee of the Board designated by the President) will interview each candidate. The Ex-Officio Student Trustees will be invited to participate in the interview process. If the Board establishes a committee to conduct candidate interviews, the committee (which may include one or both of the Ex-Officio Student Trustees) will recommend to the Board the candidate or candidates for selection by the Board. The final determination will be made by a majority vote of the Board. Deleted: The Student Trustee shall be a senior (twelfth grade) student at Croton-Harmon High School Deleted: and Deleted: shall Deleted: Croton-Harmon High School Deleted: two years Deleted: their senior year Deleted: the president Deleted: the president Deleted: The Student Trustee shall be selected by election of the students of Croton-Harmon High School. For the term commencing July 1, 2021, the election shall be conducted in September 2021, and the student elected to the position shall commence service immediately and shall serve until June 30, 2022. For subsequent terms, the election shall be conducted in May of each year, and the student elected to the position shall commence service on July 1 Deleted: The Deleted: CHHS Student-Faculty Congress Deleted: shall supervise and conduct the election Deleted: . The Student-Faculty Congress shall determine the election date and the date for submission of nominating petitions. Candidates shall submit to the Student-Faculty Congress… Deleted: twenty Deleted: 20 Deleted: Croton-Harmon High School Deleted: signing the petition If no students submit nominating petitions for the position of Ex-Officio Student Trustee(s), the SFC may select the Ex-Officio Student Trustee(s). If the Ex-Officio Student Trustee resigns the position, is removed, or is no longer able to serve, the SFC may recommend to the Board for its approval a student to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term. If the Associate Ex-Officio Student Trustee resigns the position, is removed, or is no longer able to serve, the SFC may recommend to the Board for its approval a student to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the school year and thereafter the Ex-Officio Student Trustee position for the succeeding year will be filled using the selection process set forth in the preceding paragraph. If it is determined by the Board that the vacated position should not be filled, the position will remain vacant until the succeeding July 1. Rights and Responsibilities of Ex-Officio Student Trustees 1. Each Ex-Officio Student Trustee will have the right to attend all public Board meetings, including hearings and work sessions, although it is not expected that both Ex-Officio Student Trustees will be attending every meeting, hearing and work session. The Ex- Officio Student Trustee(s) will be entitled to sit with Board members and have the right to participate in all Board public discussions. 2. The Ex-Officio Student Trustee(s) will be treated as full and active members of the Board for the purpose of participation in public Board meetings, except that the Ex- Officio Student Trustees will not: have the authority to vote on any matter before the Board; attend executive sessions of the Board or attend any other meetings or hearings not open to the public; have the authority to call a special and/or emergency meeting of the Board; be considered a “member” of the Board for the purpose of establishing a quorum for the conducting of business; and be privy to documents or information regarding district personnel, collective bargaining negotiations, student records, or any other confidential matters. 3. The Ex-Officio Student Trustee(s) may, upon request, be permitted to participate in meetings remotely without the provision of notice to the public under Policy 2340— Notice of Meetings, and may be excused to leave meetings early, upon the approval of the Board President. 4. The Superintendent or designee is responsible for arranging an orientation and training program for each new Ex-Officio Student Trustee. The Ex-Officio Student Trustee(s) may participate in additional training opportunities at the discretion of the Board but will not be required to participate in mandatory training for elected or appointed Board members. 5. The Ex-Officio Student Trustee will not be entitled to receive compensation of any form for participating in Board meetings. Any abuse by the Ex-Officio Student Trustee of rights, privileges, responsibilities or recognition of the position of Ex-Officio Student Trustee or violation of Board policies applicable to students, including the Student Code of Conduct, as determined by a vote of the majority of the Board, will result in the removal of the Ex-Officio Student Trustee. Vacancy of the Student Trustee Position Deleted: Trustee Deleted: Student Faculty Congress Deleted: Trustee Deleted: selected Deleted: Student Faculty Congress Deleted: Trustee Deleted: The Deleted: shall Deleted: shall Deleted: Trustee shall Deleted: a Deleted: member Deleted: Trustee shall Deleted: 3 Deleted: shall Deleted: 4 Deleted: shall Deleted: shall An Ex-Officio Student Trustee may resign in writing to the District Clerk. The Board may also declare the seat vacant if an Ex-Officio Student Trustee fails to attend three consecutive Board meetings without sufficient excuse or the Ex-Officio Student Trustee is removed from the position by the Board. Cross-ref: 2100, School Board Legal Status 2110, School Board Powers and Duties 2111, Board Member Authority 2160, Board Member Ethics 2160-R, School Board Member Ethics Regulation 2310, Regular Meetings 2320, Special Meetings 2340, Notice of Meetings 2351, Quorum 2520, Board Member Training 5300, Student Code of Conduct 9110, Defense and Indemnification of Board Members and Employees Ref: Education Law §§ 1702(3), 2102-a, 2109 Public Officers Law § 18 Adoption date: June 3, 2021 Revised: _______________ FOR FIRST READING 2-12-26 [REVISION—ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS SHOWN IN TRACK CHANGES] Deleted: 1702(3-a) Deleted: ¶ Education Law § 2102-a