Series 9000: Bylaws of the Board

9160 Student Representation on the Board of Education

1. To ensure greater student voice and Board awareness on matters concerning students, the Board of Education shall seat two upperclassmen from the high school. 

2. No later than January 15th, the high school administration will inform all 10th and 11th grade students of the opportunity to apply to be considered for appointment as a student  representative to the Board. 

3. Students who wish to be considers are expected to complete the application for student  representation of the Board to the high school principal no later than February 1st. 

4. All students fulfilling these requirements will be interviewed by the Superintendent and high school principal prior to April 15th. 

5. The Superintendent will make a recommendation to the Board of Education at its scheduled May meeting where the Board will take a vote of the majority. 

6. The student(s) elected to be Student Representative(s) to the Board of Education will be seated at the Board's first meeting of the new school year. 

8. The students serving as student representatives in his/her 11th grade year will continue to serve as a 12th grader. 

9. The Board of Education reserves the right to dismiss a student representative due to poor  attendance and other performance concerns. Such removal shall require an affirmative two thirds vote by the Board of Education. If a student is removed by the Board, the Chairperson  will request that the Superintendent and high school principal will select a candidate from the  list of students who have fulfilled the application criteria during the previous selection  process. 

Privileges and Responsibilities 

1. Following her/his selection, the student representatives shall attend an orientation session  provided by the Superintendent and at least two members of the Board of Education.This session shall be held prior to the student representative's first Board of Education meeting. The orientation process shall include standards for student representation/participation to the  Board of Education. 

2. Student representatives will attend and sit on all regular meetings of the Board of Education and may be appointed to Board committees at the discretion of the Chairperson. 

3. Student representatives will receive all regular meeting agendas, minutes, and other pertinent information, excluding executive minutes/correspondence.

4. Student representatives will not participate in meetings from which the general public is  excluded, including executive sessions, negotiation sessions, or personnel portions of regular meetings of the Board of Education unless otherwise invited by the Chairperson to  participate. 

5. Student representatives will be provided an opportunity to speak during the portion of the agenda devoted to committee reports and at any other time. 

6. The Superintendent shall notify the student representatives one week prior to a meeting if she/he wishes to have input given to a specific agenda item. 

7. The student representatives will coordinate with the high school administration on the most effective ways to gather input and/or share information related to their role as student representative to the Board of Education. 

8. Student representatives will be expected to complete and submit an exit form reflecting  their term as the Board of Education representative. 

Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes 

9-203 Number and term of members of the board of education 

Bylaw adopted by the Board: 

Revised: January 13, 2025 Thomaston Public Schools Thomaston, Connecticut 

***PLEASE SEE PDF FOR APPLICATION