The Journal News (Westerchester County, New York), August 29, 2005, Monday

Copyright 2005 The Journal News (Westerchester County, NY)
All Rights Reserved
The Journal News (Westerchester County, New York)

August 29, 2005 Monday

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 1A

HEADLINE: 2nd high school student to join Clarkstown board

BYLINE: Jennifer Weil

BODY:
Ex-pupils pressed for representation change
Jennifer Weil
The Journal News
When the Clarkstown Board of Education meets this school year, it will include voices from both the district's high schools, the result of a new state law lifting restrictions on student representation.
The law, which went into effect last month allows school districts with more than one high school to have more than one student representative on the school board.
This year, Joshua Levine, a 17-year-old senior from Clarkstown South, and Ali Kamenetsky, a 17-year-old senior from Clarkstown North, won't have to alternate meetings, as their predecessors did.
Previously, a school board could only have one student representative as a nonvoting member. In addition, the representative had to be the student body president.
The new law came about in part because of the efforts of two former Clarkstown students. During the 2003-2004 school year, student representatives Andrea Vidler and Josh Mann pushed for a change in the law.
"I am super, super excited that it passed. It was very much a student effort," said Vidler, a Clarkstown South graduate who is now a sophomore studying industrial and labor relations at Cornell University. "It will make a significant change on the school boards in New York state to have student representatives."
Vidler and Mann felt strongly that with only one high school representative, the student couldn't fairly represent the other high school, especially because many schools, like the ones in Clarkstown, have different issues and different demographics. In addition, it restricted the right of students to choose their representative to the school board.
The two contacted Assemblyman Steven Sanders, D-Manhattan, and with his help, they drafted an amendment to the current law. In addition to allowing two representatives, the draft said they would not be limited to being a student government leader. They could be elected by students, the school government or selected by the principal or the school board.
The bill passed the Assembly last year. A similar bill also passed in the state Senate.
Clarkstown Superintendent William Heebink said it's important to have student representation on the school board.
"Our business is to do the best we can for the students, that's our goal. And if everybody agrees that that's our goal, then the student input, I think, becomes extremely important," he said. "It certainly helps to remind us what their perspective is so that we don't go astray."
As South's student representative, Levine said he planned to discuss a number of different issues with the board.
"The issue of South High School having only one entrance road must be addressed," he wrote in an e-mail. "This issue is very important not only in terms of traffic congestion but also for disaster preparedness."
Levine also is interested in talking about the possibility of building bicycle paths to schools.
This would give students the opportunity to exercise, save money and reduce pollution, Levine said.
Like Vidler, Levine said he believes in the importance of having two representatives.
"No one person can represent the needs of the entire Clarkstown student population," he wrote. "By having two people with different perspectives and experiences, the board will get a clearer idea of students' issues."
Levine praised Vidler's and Mann's efforts.
"It shows how much former student representatives valued the experience and want future students to have the opportunity," he wrote.
Reach Jennifer Weil at jweil@thejournalnews.com or 845-578-2426.
Multiple high schools
All districts in the state that have more than one high school are affected by the new law. All districts that want students to join their boards can now put it on the ballot for voter approval. The bill does not mandate or require student representation.
Only a few school districts in the northern suburbs have more than one high school:
Clarkstown: North and South
East Ramapo: Ramapo and Spring Valley
Lakeland: Lakeland and Walter Panas
Yonkers: Gorton, Roosevelt, Lincoln, Yonkers and Saunders Trades and Technical