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Student Representative Fills Seat at Board Meetings
Reno, NV (June 14, 2011) - The Washoe County School District Board of Trustees recently welcomed a new face to the table for its regular Board meetings. Student Advisory Council member Nathaniel Haas will now sit among the Trustees to provide student input on agenda items. Though he is not a voting member, he will represent all WCSD students.
"So many of these policies are geared toward students and it's important to have student input," Haas said. "I think it is not only valuable, but it will provide a sense of perspective as to how students deal with these issues, how it will affect students and how it can be tailored to fit the needs of students."
Haas, who begins his senior year in the fall, has political and law ambitions. He credits his prior experience on Reno High's speech and debate team for equipping him with the skills and knowledge to participate in a formal Board setting. He also competed with Reno's mock trial team, served in the National Honor Society and participated in the Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce Youth Leadership Forum earlier this year.
During his first Board of Trustees meeting on May 24, Haas had the opportunity to ask questions and provide comment on presentations about full-day kindergarten, the Gifted and Talented program and to watch the Board approve its budget for the 2011-12 fiscal year.
"It was a lot of fun and it was definitely an educational experience," Haas said after the meeting. "I learned a lot from all of these wonderful people in charge of our school district. I definitely found out there's a lot more to it than I first imagined."
The Student Advisory Council was formed this year to provide students the opportunity to directly communicate with Superintendent Heath Morrison. The council has 26 high school students who were recommended by their principals to serve. Student representatives meet quarterly with Morrison and at least twice a year with Morrison and the Board of Trustees to discuss relevant issues, including the budget, advertising on school buses and the changing of daily school start times.
Board President Barbara McLaury said Haas' presence and the input of the council will benefit the trustees as they make important decisions that affect education for all students.
"Nathaniel will bring a great perspective from the students' eyes to some of the issues which make some significant impact on the District," McLaury said. "So he's going to be a good reminder to all of us that students are our first part of our mission and the only thing we need to be directly concerned with day in and day out."
