A policy that would have created a process to include one non-voting member of the student body to be seated at the table alongside publicly elected school committee members was voted down by a 5-4 margin during the Monday night meeting of the Bristol Warren School Committee.

The concept, which had been approved by the policy subcommittee, would have empowered the school committee to vet and choose one student in good standing from the junior class at Mt. Hope High School to serve as a student representative on the school committee — a role that would amount to an advisory position without real power.

That student would be chosen by the high school principal and school committee in May and serve a one-year term, beginning during the June school committee meeting and proceeding through the September meeting of their senior year, at which time they would relinquish their duties to the next representative. While they would be able to present ideas for potential agenda items, they would have no power to vote, make motions, or participate in executive sessions as duly-elected members.

Those in favor of the idea said it was an opportunity for students to have a voice in their education as never before.

“I believe they should have a seat at the table,” said Carly Reich, chair of the policy subcommittee. “Not a voting seat, they are not elected members of the school committee, but to be able to sit and discuss and have an opportunity to chime in on what they feel is important and required for their education to feel prepared when they get out of these fine buildings of ours.”

Chairperson Nicky Piper agreed with the tenants of the policy proposal.
“I am honored any time that I get to hear from an expert about what it is that we’re discussing and what it is we’re going to be voting on,” she said. “And there is no greater experts on what is going on in our schools than our students. So I would definitely embrace having a student voice at the table.”

But a five-person majority thought otherwise.

“We have student council, a council that is elected by the student body. We here were elected by state law. Nobody else should be at this table but us, number one,” said Marjorie McBride. “Students have shown over and over again that when they needed to, they can come and talk about what their concerns were. We have a principal, vice principal, a superintendent, and they all reflect to us what the needs are. I think that you don’t get to be sitting here until you’ve earned the right to do that.”

Committee Secretary Tara Thibaudeau agreed that student voice was important, and that she had seen their willingness to contribute to their educational process during Covid, but that she believed the school committee would be better served expanding the role of the existing student government before creating a new process.

“Why shouldn’t we try to use something already in existence, such as the student government, which is students elected by their peers to represent their peers?” she said. “Those student government representatives can come to the school committee when there is an issue they would like to address…Kids these days feel that when they ask for something, they should immediately get it. That instant gratification; my children included. I think that being in these seats is an earned position and an earned right.”

Sarah Bullard, who voted in favor of the policy, said that student government has proven to be limited in its capabilities, whereas this new position would enable them to act as a liaison between the committee and the student government.

“This could be a person who could go back to a student government meeting and say, this is what I saw at school committee, what do you guys think? And then bring back that as a representative,” she said. “It’s not a vote.”

Adam McGovern argued that students can always have a voice at the table if they so choose, and so a specific representative as presented was not necessary.

“I think we can accomplish the goal of listening to the student voice and their opinions without placing a student representative on the school committee. At any time any student, at any grade level, can come to a school committee meeting and voice their opinion during the public comment period,” he said. “And I encourage all students to take the opportunity to come to a school committee meeting and voice your opinion. I assure you that we will be listening. If you’re not comfortable sharing your voice publicly, every student can access the school committee via email, and I would encourage you to reach out in that way if you feel more comfortable.”

School committee member Kyle Jackson said that the denial of a student representative would further the divide felt between students and the people elected to represent them.

“I find it mind-numbing that any school committee member up here wants to not hear and build a bridge to the students’ voice, one of our biggest stakeholders in the district. Really, it’s just mind-boggling,” he said. “You’re just creating a bigger silo that the students already feel to the school committee.”

Those voting in favor of the policy were Jackson, Reich, Bullard, and Piper. Those voting opposed were McGovern, McBride, Thibaudeau, Jessica Almeida, and Karen Cabral.