Nanaimo-Ladysmith school trustees are examining ways to get students more involved in school district decisions, including the possibility of a student representative at meetings.
Trustee Mark Robinson initiated discussion at the May 3 education committee meeting and a subsequent motion passed, directing staff to provide information on the ways Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools students engage at the school board and district level. Robinson said the school district provides opportunities for representatives from teachers’ and education support workers’ unions and parents to provide input and “influential dialogue” via the board and committee tables and there has been discussion about “enhanced” student involvement.
“What I’m talking about is student participation at the board level, I’m not talking committee level or anything else … 33 per cent-plus students across Canada have representation at that level and that could be through legislation,” said Robinson. “The province of Ontario, a populous province, they mandate all school boards to have student representation at the board. The province of New Brunswick, it’s not legislated, but they do have representation in all those [boards].”
Greg Keller, school board chairperson, said he also would like to see more student input, but didn’t think it should be rushed. The district could look at what its counterparts are doing, he said.
“It would be good looking at that through the lens of our own district because I don’t necessarily think it’s a one-size-fits-all approach…” he said. “It might be sometimes there’s a student or two that’s invited to participate in a meeting, it might be surveys or other outreach.”
Staff will provide the information in time for an education committee meeting later this month.
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