Beginning this school year, the Great Neck Public Schools’ Board of Education welcomed the addition of two student ex-officio representatives to serve alongside its elected trustees.

Following a New York State Education Department decision that took effect on July 1, 2025, all school districts with a high school must now include at least one ex-officio student member on their public school boards. The term ex-officio is a Latin phrase meaning “from the office,” referring to a position held as a result of another role the individual occupies. Because of their role as students and prior service as Board of Education representatives during their junior year, seniors Maxwell Pour from North High and Katie Leder from South High were appointed to these newly established positions. “As someone who has been a Board of Education representative for our student government during freshman, sophomore, and junior year, it feels great to be able to step up for my school as an official representative,” said Leder.

The ex-officio student representatives are a part of the district’s governing body and can therefore actively participate in board discussions. “Just as the Board of Education trustees are allowed to speak about a topic on the agenda, so can [ex-officio representatives],” said South High Principal Mr. Thomas DePaola.

The representatives also consult with the student body in order to present updates. While the role is non-voting and limited to public meetings, the Board considers the representatives’ input when adopting district-wide policies and planning the school budget.

One of the Board of Education’s main objectives is to promote the well-being of all students. However, a board consisting solely of adults creates distance between the administration and the students, the group most affected by the decisions made. “The board members can make well-intentioned assumptions, but they can’t fully understand daily student experiences without hearing from us directly,” said Leder. By reporting and gathering feedback from peers, clubs, and the student government, the ex-officio members ensure that the student body’s voices are heard. Ultimately, the representatives provide a student perspective that can guide decisions to address student concerns and needs.

With the implementation of these new positions, the ex-officio members will ensure that student input has a lasting impact on board policies.“I want [the position] to lead to clearer communication between students and administration, more student-centered decision-making, and policies that better reflect student needs, especially regarding mental health, school climate, and equitable access to opportunities,” said Leder. “Ideally, this position will help build a culture in which students feel ownership of their education and confidence that their voices matter.”