THOUSAND OAKS : Students Given Vote at Board Meetings

The Conejo Valley school board has decided to allow elected student advisers to cast non-binding, advisory votes at board meetings on all public matters.

Starting this fall, four student advisers representing the district’s four high schools will rotate as voting members of the school board. Their votes will become part of the official record, but will carry no weight in official decisions.

Under state law, student representatives must be allowed to cast advisory votes if at least 500 students sign a petition supporting the idea.

A Thousand Oaks High School student presented district officials with a petition carrying the necessary signatures in early June. The board amended its policy on student representation Thursday night.

Previously, student advisers to the board gave brief reports at the beginning of each meeting but did not participate in policy discussions or cast votes.

Board President Dolores Didio said she hopes the new policy will encourage more student involvement in school district issues.

The rotation will begin with the elected student from Conejo Valley High School, who will serve as the student adviser for the first meeting. Didio said the students will begin serving on the board when they return to school in the fall.

Each school will establish its own procedure for selecting its student representative. Those procedures will likely include either schoolwide elections or elections within the student body government, district officials said.