Over the past year, school districts across the state have seen a shift in the way students are represented in school governance. As of July 1, 2025, Boards of Education are required to include a student board member at public meetings. This change marked a crucial step forward in recognizing that students deserve a voice in conversations that shape their educational experience.
While this requirement was new for many districts, in Glen Cove, student voices in board discussions were already part of our practice. For several years before the law was passed, our school board included a student member at public meetings, reflecting a shared belief that students bring perspectives adults alone cannot provide. Their experiences as learners and members of the school community help ground board discussions in the realities of student life.
The state law formalized this approach and removed the need for a local referendum to establish a student board member position. Under the law, each district includes at least one ex officio, non-voting student member who participates in public board meetings. Student board members do not vote, and do not attend executive sessions. Their role is to observe, listen and contribute to open discussions when appropriate, offering insight into how policies and decisions may be experienced by students.
As districts have worked to implement the new requirement, guidance from the New York State School Boards Association has helped shape best practices. One recommendation encourages districts to include student board members in board policy committee meetings, where much of the detailed discussion and review of district policies occurs. This reflects an understanding that student voices can be especially valuable during the policy-development process.
In Glen Cove we have taken this guidance to heart. Our student board member is invited to attend policy committee meetings and observe the work that goes into shaping district policies. This step allows students to better understand how policies are developed, revised and aligned with district values, while creating additional opportunities for student perspectives to inform conversations that directly impact school life.
Student board membership is not intended to place students in situations they are unprepared for, nor does it shift adult responsibility onto young people. Rather, it creates a thoughtful opportunity for inclusion by allowing students to learn how governance works, observe decision-making in action and share their perspectives in a supportive and respectful setting.
In Glen Cove we view student board membership as an area of continued growth. While our student board members have participated in meetings for several years, we recognize that meaningful student engagement in governance requires ongoing reflection. We are working to expand opportunities for student voices by thinking carefully about how students are prepared for leadership roles, how they are supported throughout their service, and how adult leaders respond to and learn from student input.
This work challenges us to listen more closely. Students often notice aspects of school life that adults may overlook. Their observations can raise important questions and help clarify how decisions made at the board table are experienced in classrooms, hallways and extracurricular spaces. At the same time, participation in board and policy meetings offers students an authentic civic learning experience. They gain firsthand exposure to public service, collaboration and the complexity of decision-making in a democratic system.
Including students in governance aligns closely with what we strive to teach in our schools. We want students to develop critical thinking skills, civic awareness and a sense of responsibility to their community. When students are invited into these conversations, they see that leadership is built through listening, dialogue and shared responsibility. They learn that their voices matter, and that respectful participation can contribute to positive change.
At its heart, the inclusion of student board members is about belonging. It sends a clear message that students are valued members of the school community whose perspectives deserve consideration. Their presence helps keep our work focused on what matters most, and strengthens the connection between decision-making and student experience.
Our goal isn’t simply compliance with a mandate, but the continued development of a culture that values student voices as part of thoughtful and responsive leadership. By expanding opportunities for student input with care and openness, we believe our schools will be better positioned to serve today’s students while preparing them to be engaged and informed citizens tomorrow.
Dr. Alexa Doeschner is superintendent of the Glen Cove City School District. Andrew DiNapoli is the district’s assistant superintendent for Human Resources.
