School District #27 (SD27) trustees are looking into appointing student trustees to liaise between their respective schools and the school board.
The trustees reviewed a report outlining research they had requested from district staff, with information regarding student representation on school boards.
The report revealed two school districts in British Columbia have elected a student trustee, and provided the board with further details on those appointments.
On the Sunshine Coast, School District #46 also set up a district student leadership team to liaise with the student trustees and the student body.
As non-elected representatives, however, student trustees have no vote on school board motions or executive elections, nor do they sit in on in-camera board meetings.
The student trustees can attend the board's committee meetings to provide student perspectives and suggestions for items on the agendas.
Like all trustees, the students must isolate themselves from any discussion where there is a potential conflict of interest, such as a parent or sibling having a direct or indirect financial interest in the issue being discussed.
Currently, SD27 has student representatives on its education and business committees.
The First Nation Education Committee is also considering inviting student First Nation Role Models to be members.
The trustees voted to refer development of a policy on student trustees to their education committee, which will then come back to the board for consideration.