Markeshia Ricks Photo
Greenberg Monday night with Morris Cove Alder Sal DeCola, an opponent of grade requirements.
Unless alders make additional changes, grades and attendance records could still be a factor in eligibility for future student board of education representatives.
A draft proposal created by the joint Aldermanic Affairs and Education committees began the process of setting rules for electing people to New Haven’s Board of Education. In its draft from, it would require that a selection committee consider academic standing and attendance in addition to demonstrated interest and an interview when selecting student candidates to run for the two non-voting positions on the New Haven Board of Education.
The Board of Alders received the proposal at its regular Monday night meeting. The proposal is now in the hands of the board’s Legislation Committee for further refinement and debate.
The proposed ordinance puts the city steps closer to going from an eight member Board of Ed appointed by the mayor to a “hybrid” board of six mayoral appointees, two elected members and two non-voting student, after a charter revision vote last fall paved the way.
“Considerations of eligibility by the Selection Committee shall include, but not be limited to, academic standing, attendance, demonstrated interest and interview,” the draft reads.
For months, student and city leaders have debated which other conditions, if any, to attach to the student representative position. Alders were divided on whether to impose minimum GPA requirements, at a joint meeting of the Aldermanic Affairs and Education committees on Sept. 23. At a citywide student leadership meeting Oct. 21, most high school representatives said that poor grades should not bar students from running for the position.
Wooster Square Alder Aaron Greenberg, Education Committee chair, said the Legislation Committee can make any changes its sees fit including nixing the academic and attendance requirements.
“Our suggestions were merely that — suggestions,” he said.
Under the proposed ordinance, a committee of alders, city representatives, community leaders and Board of Ed members will solicit applications and choose six student candidates to stand for election. A citywide student election will result in one of those six serving a two-year term after his or her sophomore year. The first student representative would be elected June 2015 to serve a term from August 2015 to June 2017. The second student representative will be elected June 2016 to serve a term from August 2016 to June 2018. The board would ultimately include one junior and one senior.
The charter requires all candidates to be New Haven residents. It will be the job of the selection committee to ensure fair representation from large high schools and smaller magnet schools, according to the proposal.
The Board of Alders plans to solidify the process by Jan. 1.
Aliyya Swaby contributed to this story.
How come you do not go after the charter school people who sit on the school board.