District 1 board could have student representatives by January

Two high school students could be seated on the Sheridan County School District 1 board of trustees by January.

District 1 trustees discussed that possibility during a work session this week, voicing hopes that a policy allowing student representation could be approved at the school board’s meeting in November.

School District Superintendent Pete Kilbride said one of the trustees a couple of months ago proposed that a student from each of the district’s two high schools be appointed to the school board.

The district operates Big Horn High School and Tongue River High School in Dayton. He said the idea at present is for each student to serve a semester, which would equate to about four or five board meetings. That student would then rotate off the board and another student would serve.

He said if the policy can be approved by trustees next month, the high school principals could then start taking applications from students and the first two student representatives could be seated in January, which is the second semester of this school year.

Kilbride said no one has talked to the students yet to gauge their thoughts on the plan, but the reactions of the two high school principals have been positive. He said he thinks they’re excited to have student liaisons who can report back to the other high school students on issues that the district’s trustees are dealing with.

He said there are already student council representatives who, at the trustees’ monthly meetings, present reports to the trustees. But then, he said, the student council representatives generally leave.

He said having students sitting on the school board will be a little more of a commitment.