Each month the school board meets to discuss what is happening in education, both locally and nationally. This 2018-2019 school year, senior Haley Denton and junior Lexi Martin were selected to sit on the board, be student representatives and give monthly presentations about the current events in the high school.
This is Denton’s second year of participating in the board meetings. She was asked by her predecessor alumni Gavyn Webb and teacher and student council leader Julie Haveman, at the end of her sophomore year, because they knew that Denton would be a good candidate for the job.
“[Having] my parents as teachers in the district has made me realize how great of a community Northview is, [which made me] want to be more involved,” Denton said.
This is junior Lexi Martin’s first year of being in this position. Like Denton, she was asked by Haveman at the end of her sophomore year to join.
Martin had been involved with the school board when she was at Crossroads, so she thought that doing it again in high school would be a great experience.
These positions were created to give the board an idea about what is happening in the high school.
The qualities that Haveman looks for in student board representatives are excellent attendance, a great work ethic and good communication skills, as well as a requirement of two years on student council.
“I chose [Martin] and [Denton] because they are mature, responsible and well rounded young ladies,” Haveman said.
Each month Denton and Martin are instructed to create a presentation about what is happening in the high school from a student’s point of view. The same is asked from the Crossroads representatives.
“It’s really professional, we have a whole report list of everything that is going to happen,” Martin says.
The meetings begin with the Pledge of Allegiance, the board president, Doug S. LaFleur, then uses a gavel to call the meeting into order. Next, they take comments from people in the community and pay recognition to deserving students and teachers in the district.
“There are certain awards that have been given teachers, staff members or students,” Denton said.
After that Denton and Martin are up to do their presentations, then stay for the remainder of the meeting.
“It gives me a different perspective of things. Going to school everyday you don’t really think about the people at the top and how they make decisions,” Martin said.
