SBCUSD Welcomes Two New Student Board Members

The San Bernardino City Unified School District Board of Education welcomed two new student members, who were appointed to represent the more than 51,000 students who attend school in the District. The idea to create the student board member positions was born out of a desire to include students in the decisions that impact them. The new, student Board members are also active participants in Superintendent Dr. Dale Marsden’s Student Advisory Council, which includes representatives from all District high schools. Marsden believes that adding student voices to the ongoing dialogue with stakeholders will make for richer, more inclusive decisions. “Our goal is to establish clear communication and promote student voice in our decision making,” Marsden said. “It’s really a win-win because students have an opportunity to give their input while also learning about local governance.” The student Board members will serve in an advisory capacity to the Board of Education. Cajon High School senior Benjamin Montelongo, 18, is excited to be a voice for fellow students, a role he views as his civic duty. “I’m very aware that this is my civic responsibility as a student,” Benjamin said. “The policies that the Board of Education is formulating directly affect the future of students in our community. For me, it’s about giving a voice to the voiceless.” Benjamin, who will major in political science in college and has his goals set on holding public office, hopes to use his term on the Board to encourage fellow students to take leadership positions. “If I don’t step up to be a student leader, I’m letting someone else speak for me,” Benjamin said. “I want other students to realize that they have a voice and their voice matters.” Senior Danielle Candray, who attends San Gorgonio High School, is the second student Board member. Both Danielle and Benjamin will serve one-year terms. Those who are part of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council, like Pacific High School junior Cordon Phillips, have strong opinions and are ready to voice them. These students are already participating in the decision-making process by helping the District develop a Board policy aimed at reducing the number of students who are cited or arrested. Cordon, who examined four years of student suspension data along with Pacific High senior Anastasia Power, was encouraged by the significant drop in student suspensions. The number of District students suspended from school has been nearly cut in half since the 2010–2011 school year, when 6,347 students were suspended, compared to 3,568 in the 2014–2015 school year. “It’s a big decrease,” Cordon said. “But it does seem that the suspension numbers are still high.”