I. PURPOSE
The student school board representative shall be an advisor to and meet and work constructively with the Rock Ridge Public School Board and Administration. The only meetings the student school board members need to attend in his/her representative capacity are the regular monthly public school board meetings of the Rock Ridge Public Schools. The student school board representative shall be a non-voting participant in official meetings of the Board of Directors for the Rock Ridge Public School District. He/she shall also provide a communication link with the student body, and by participation, provide a practical governmental experience for the students selected.
II. ELIGIBILITY
A. One junior-to-be representative will be chosen in May of their sophomore school year to serve a two-year term beginning in June and continuing through May of his/her senior year. Eligibility requirements are as follows:
B. Any student entering their junior year at the beginning of the fall and attending Rock Ridge High School, having good moral character, a resident of the Rock Ridge Public Schools for at least one (1) year prior to the date of selection, shall be eligible as a student representative.
C. The representative must meet and maintain all eligibility requirements for extracurricular activities as detailed in the “Rock Ridge Student Handbook.”
D. The representative must exhibit characteristics of good citizenship and have no history of serious disciplinary actions.
E. The representative must maintain at least 95% attendance and a minimum GPA of 2.5.
F. A total of two student representatives will be on the school board. One will be a junior and the other will be a senior. A junior representative who is an alternate will also be selected.
II. SELECTION PROCESS
A. The high school principal will notify all students of the opening for student representative(s) on the school board and work with the high school staff to encourage students to apply. An informational meeting may be scheduled for students interested in applying for the position. (An administrator(s), school board member(s) and other staff may be in attendance to discuss the position and answer questions.)
B. The representative candidates must submit an application and written answers to questions explaining their reason(s) for wishing to represent the student body as a member of the school board. A candidate must have at least one teacher recommend them for the position.
C. The school board personnel committee will read the applications, essays, and interview selected candidates.
D. The school board personnel committee will recommend to the board the student(s) to serve as a school board representative and the board will give final approval for the individual(s) selected to serve.
E. The student rep approved by the school board will be assigned one or two mentors from the school board and will receive an orientation from these mentors.
IV. GUIDELINES FOR STUDENT SCHOOL BOARD REPRESENTATIVES
The Student School Board Representative shall:
A. Be aware of the great responsibility of his/her position in representing the total student community and not an individual group.
B. Be aware that the Board of Education is a policy making body rather than an administrative body.
C. Act only when the Board is in session unless authorized by the Board to perform a specific assignment.
D. Refer requests for action through proper administrative channels.
E. Recognize that effective democratic procedure exists when all Board members support the implementation of policy that has been approved by majority action at an open public meeting.
F. Be willing and able to attend all regular school board meetings except sessions
concerning specific personnel matters, including, but not limited to, employee performance, student discipline hearing, negotiations and grievances as well as consideration of the sale or transfer of property and/or any other matter permitted to be discussed by the Board of School Directors in closed executive session under the Public Open Meeting Law
G. Be non-voting participants of the Board of Directors.
H. Not attend special or emergency meetings unless by invitation of the Board.
I. Receive the agenda which is sent to all Board members.
J. Have a board member as a mentor and meet with him/her to go over the agenda and be briefed by their mentor or superintendent on agenda items of interest to them.
K. Sit at the Board table along with other Board members and have a place to speak on the agenda.
V. EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE
A. Be prepared with the agenda at each meeting including review of any appropriate items with the superintendent.
B. Be prepared to give a report at each public monthly meeting.
C. Be courteous with Board members and the public at all times.
D. Follow all rules and regulations and guidelines in the Rock Ridge High School Student Handbook.
E. Keep remarks brief and to the point; ask clear and concise questions.
F. Learn the identity of the Board members so that they can be addressed by name and when speaking to a Board member during a meeting will address them as “Director ________ (Last name).”
G. Dress accordingly – appearance is important as it reflects the school you represent.
H. Have a clear understanding as to time commitment.
I. Understand they will need to get to and from school board meetings using their own method of transportation.
J. A student school board representative who neglects or refuses to attend two (2)
successive regular meetings of the Board, unless detained by sickness or prevented by necessary absences from the district, may be removed from his/her position by the superintendent.
K. A student school board representative may be removed from his/her position for reasonable cause by the superintendent.
Adopted: November 25, 2024