Oppose the Diminishing Role of Student Representatives in the Mat-Su School Board

We, the undersigned, urge the Matanuska-Susitna School Board to reconsider and oppose the proposed changes to the role of the board's student representative. These proposed changes would not only diminish the significance of student voices in school board matters but also deviate from the established practices of many school boards across the state.

Key Concerns:

1. Reduced Student Participation: The proposed policy would restrict the student representative's contributions to just the beginning of meetings or only when prompted by the board chair. This limitation severely diminishes the opportunities for student perspectives to be heard during crucial discussions.
2. Loss of Preferential Vote and Title: Removing the ability for the student representative to cast a preferential vote and stripping them of the "board member" title undermines the importance of their role and representation.
3. Inconsistency with Other Boards: The majority of school boards in our state, including the largest five school districts and the state school board, recognize the value of including student voices by allowing them to speak and cast preferential votes during meetings.
4. Retaliation: The proposed changes come in the wake of the board's contentious meeting in May. The timing raises concerns that these changes could be seen as retaliatory against student representatives who question board decisions.
5. Undermining Established Precedents: The Mat-Su School Board recognized the importance of student voices as early as 1979 and further emphasized it with a board policy in 1995. It is regressive to now limit this role.

Ben Kolendo, a student representative elected twice by his peers, has emphasized his responsibility in representing the entire student body and ensuring the board's decisions prioritize students' best interests. Other student representatives like Felix Myers have highlighted the critical importance of preserving the student voice in school board decisions.

We believe that the proposed changes are not in the best interest of the students, the school district, or the community at large. The board's upcoming vote on Sept. 6 presents a pivotal opportunity to stand by the values of representation, inclusivity, and student participation.

We oppose the proposed changes and want to ensure that student voices remain robustly represented in the Mat-Su School Board's decision-making processes.