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Legislation would expand student voting rights on Maryland school board Legislation would expand student voting rights on Maryland school board
(about 3 hours later)
The student member of the Montgomery County school board would get significantly expanded voting rights under a new bill that passed through the Maryland legislature Wednesday, marking a long-sought victory for the county’s students.The student member of the Montgomery County school board would get significantly expanded voting rights under a new bill that passed through the Maryland legislature Wednesday, marking a long-sought victory for the county’s students.
Under legislation that passed the Senate by a 39-to-4 margin, the student member of the Montgomery County Board of Education would be able to cast votes on major issues previously limited to adult board members, including collective bargaining, capital and operating budgets, and school boundaries and closings.Under legislation that passed the Senate by a 39-to-4 margin, the student member of the Montgomery County Board of Education would be able to cast votes on major issues previously limited to adult board members, including collective bargaining, capital and operating budgets, and school boundaries and closings.
“I’m very excited,” said Eric Guerci, 16, a junior at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High and the board’s student member. Guerci testified twice in Annapolis in support of the bill. “I think it’s right for our students, and I’m very grateful to the legislature for instilling the trust in our students and creating an empowerment of the next generation.”“I’m very excited,” said Eric Guerci, 16, a junior at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High and the board’s student member. Guerci testified twice in Annapolis in support of the bill. “I think it’s right for our students, and I’m very grateful to the legislature for instilling the trust in our students and creating an empowerment of the next generation.”
Montgomery’s eight-member school board includes a student member who middle-school and high-school students from across the system elect to a one-year term. Student members serve much like their adult counterparts, but there have long been restrictions in voting on such issues as the budget. Montgomery’s eight-member school board includes a student member whom middle-school and high-school students from across the system elect to a one-year term. Student members serve much like their adult counterparts, but there have long been restrictions in voting on such issues as the budget.
The approved legislation — which now goes to Gov. Larry Hogan (R) — comes after decades of students pushing for a greater student voice on the board.The approved legislation — which now goes to Gov. Larry Hogan (R) — comes after decades of students pushing for a greater student voice on the board.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said School Board President Michael Durso. “I think it’s well-deserved. The student member of the board, I think, works every bit as hard as the adult members, so I think it is a step in the right direction for our board and school system.”“It’s been a long time coming,” said School Board President Michael Durso. “I think it’s well-deserved. The student member of the board, I think, works every bit as hard as the adult members, so I think it is a step in the right direction for our board and school system.”
David Naimon, the first student board member in Montgomery, who served in the 1978-1979 school year, also called the legislative success long overdue. Anne Arundel County’s student board member has had full voting rights since the 1970s, he said.David Naimon, the first student board member in Montgomery, who served in the 1978-1979 school year, also called the legislative success long overdue. Anne Arundel County’s student board member has had full voting rights since the 1970s, he said.
Naimon, now 55 and a federal government attorney, recalled that the student board member in Montgomery started out with no voting rights, and about a decade later won partial voting rights. The legislature voted to expand student voting rights for a two-year period but did not extend it.Naimon, now 55 and a federal government attorney, recalled that the student board member in Montgomery started out with no voting rights, and about a decade later won partial voting rights. The legislature voted to expand student voting rights for a two-year period but did not extend it.
“I think it’s a great tribute to students over the years, and in part the current students, because they are the ones who pushed it over the finish line,” Naimon said.“I think it’s a great tribute to students over the years, and in part the current students, because they are the ones who pushed it over the finish line,” Naimon said.
Opponents of giving the student member expanded voting rights have been concerned that the general public does not democratically elect them to the board, Naimon said, noting that the path to voting rights has been lengthy and complex.Opponents of giving the student member expanded voting rights have been concerned that the general public does not democratically elect them to the board, Naimon said, noting that the path to voting rights has been lengthy and complex.
“It has failed many times, in many different ways,” he said. “It has been a real lesson in the legislative process, both good and bad, for our students.”“It has failed many times, in many different ways,” he said. “It has been a real lesson in the legislative process, both good and bad, for our students.”
Del. Anne R. Kaiser (D-Montgomery), who sponsored the House bill, said students have shown great maturity and ability in their board role.Del. Anne R. Kaiser (D-Montgomery), who sponsored the House bill, said students have shown great maturity and ability in their board role.
“They’ve been very studious, and they’ve been very good at representing the interests of the students,” Kaiser said. “They deserve the far-expanded voting rights we have given them today.”“They’ve been very studious, and they’ve been very good at representing the interests of the students,” Kaiser said. “They deserve the far-expanded voting rights we have given them today.”
The change would not give students full voting rights. The last exception involves voting on negative personnel decisions — such as disciplinary actions against a teacher or principal. That limitation was kept in place to ensure that students are not voting on the teachers or principals in their schools.The change would not give students full voting rights. The last exception involves voting on negative personnel decisions — such as disciplinary actions against a teacher or principal. That limitation was kept in place to ensure that students are not voting on the teachers or principals in their schools.
[Montgomery elects new student member of school board][Montgomery elects new student member of school board]
Guerci, the student board member, said the greatest impact comes in budgetary discussions: “A lot of what we want to pursue has fiscal ramifications.”Guerci, the student board member, said the greatest impact comes in budgetary discussions: “A lot of what we want to pursue has fiscal ramifications.”
The National School Boards Association found that 15 percent of 2,000 school boards surveyed nationally had at least one student representative in 2002, when it did its last formal survey. Among boards with student members, 11.5 percent reported that students could vote, according to a spokesman for the group. The association did not ask questions about voting limitations.The National School Boards Association found that 15 percent of 2,000 school boards surveyed nationally had at least one student representative in 2002, when it did its last formal survey. Among boards with student members, 11.5 percent reported that students could vote, according to a spokesman for the group. The association did not ask questions about voting limitations.