Board of Education Welcomes Ex Officio Student Members
Board of Education Welcomes Ex Officio Student Members
Since its inception, the Erie 1 BOCES Board of Education has worked tirelessly and diligently to put the needs of students first. Now, those students will join the conversation with the addition of ex officio student members to the governing board.
In accordance with New York state law, ex officio student board members will now be present at each board meeting. These students, seniors who attend Erie 1 BOCES Career and Technical Education programs, will serve as the primary voice for the student body on the school board. They will ensure that student perspectives, concerns, and interests are represented in all board decision-making processes.
Harkness senior Brooke Dalton attends the September board of education meeting
“It’s exciting to see our students join the table and provide their input and perspective to discussions,” said Scott Bindemann, Director of Career and Technical Education. “Our ex officio student members have been identified through a consistent process across our campuses and they understand the importance of their role. The viewpoints that they will provide will benefit our Board of Education and as a result, improve the educational opportunities for our students.”
Harkness senior Arina Edwards attends the September board of education meeting
“They’ll be at the meetings, they’ll have the agenda, and be free to speak at the meeting to share their input,” said Erie 1 BOCES Board of Education President John Sherman. “I think it’s an important thing to educate them, and they’ll be able to communicate with their fellow students.”
The ex officio board members represent a wide variety of programs throughout Erie 1 BOCES.
“I think it's a great leadership opportunity,” said Early Childhood Education senior Sydney Girard, who attends the Potter CTE Center. “I want to speak for my fellow classmates and people who are here at BOCES.”
Ex officio student members are expected to share their insight, report back to their peers to keep them informed, and gather feedback from fellow students to offer a well-rounded perspective on district matters.
“It's important to make sure you're understanding everyone's opinions and making sure everyone feels heard and seen in the school and included,” said Katie Matson, an Early Childhood Education senior at the Potter CTE Center.
Students will attend board meetings on a rotating basis.
Ex officio student board members for the 2025-26 school year include:
Harkness CTE Center (from left to right): Arina Edwards, Brandon Shiner, Brooke Dalton
Potter CTE Center (LTR): Ciara German, Jillian Marshall, Sydney Girard, Katie Mason, Guy Holtz
Kenton CTE Center (LTR): Jossaline Ettinger, Brinlee Greco, Gianna Golosimo, Giavonna Haas, Jaren Williams
Calspan CTE Center (LTR): Farhan Amin, Sianna Crooks, Leela Wood, Kailyn Keicher, Aislyn O'Malley, Luke Bunce, AJ Viola (not pictured: Jonathan Colley, Muhsin Munassar)