NEWPORT BEACH : Students Seek More Active Role on Board

The student members of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District Board of Education are expected to ask tonight for greater participation in board discussions and an unofficial vote on board issues.

Steve Pavich, an assistant principal at Newport Harbor High School who advises the members, said the students want to participate as much as they can during board meetings.

“Until this year, students didn’t do much, and now they are enthusiastic,” he said.

Student members recently attended a a state school board association convention in San Jose where they participated in seminars on the rights and responsibilities of student board members. They were the first students from the Newport-Mesa district to attend the convention.

Board President Judith Franco said that the students have always been allowed participation in discussions but that a larger role means a larger responsibility.

“If they want greater input, then they need to understand the commitment and involvement and the amount of time involved,” Franco said.

The students are asking that they be allowed to question speakers before the board and the board’s staff during discussions and conduct a vote to let the board know where they stand on issues.

The board has already granted one of the students’ requests, changing their title from student representatives to student board members.

The students on the board are Mike Hanna of Corona del Mar High School; Derrick Walker, Costa Mesa High School; Dustin Waide, Newport Harbor High School; John Moore, Estancia High School, and alternate member, Jackie Le, Costa Mesa High School.