Voters to decide whether to retain student board member

On May 15, voters will have the opportunity to decide whether the Fayetteville-Manlius School District Board of Education will continue the practice of including a non-voting student member.

Voters must reauthorize the measure every two years. The board approved a policy in 2015 that allows the board to add a student member, pending voter approval. In 2016, voters approved the proposition, and two students have since held the position. There is no financial compensation for any board member, including a student member, for serving on the board of education. The student member would attend all public board meetings and be allowed to participate in all public discussions and voice his or her opinions.

The student member would not be allowed to attend executive or exempt sessions, which are portions of the meeting in which the law allows board members to privately discuss such matters as proposed, pending or current litigation.

If approved, the board would appoint an F-M High School senior who has attended the school for at least two years prior to the appointment for the 2018-19 school year.