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A student voice
(by Christine Bryant, Eastside Editor - March 05, 2009)
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| Messenger photo by Christine Bryant |
| Bexley High School Senior Baylor Myers, front, serves as a student representative to the school board, offering his input on issues and representing the student body. |
Bexley High School senior Baylor Myers is no stranger to school politics.
As student body president, an interest in government and the dynamics of a high school are a must.
But on evenings when Bexley School Board members convene, you'll also find Myers engaged in discussions that include funding, budget cuts and school policies.
As a student representative to the school board, Myers attends each of the board meetings and sits next to members and school officials, offering input and serving as a voice for students.
"My duties as representative to the school board are to inform the board members of student opinions," Myers said.
Although Myers does not vote, he gives a briefing to the board at the beginning of each meeting and is available to answer questions pertaining to the student body.
"The student representative is an important source of information and a reflection of the attitudes of the high school student body," Board President Andrew Sutter said.
But Sutter says its most important role is educational.
"The student who serves as representative participates in the democratic process, serving on a body that is entrusted with responsibility for administering the organization most central to the lives of a majority of the K through 12 students who live in Bexley," Sutter said.
School administrators say a student has served on the board for at least two decades, and the student in that position has contributed insight to the student perspective.
"I have always been impressed with our student representatives and Baylor is no exception," Board Vice President Joan Fishel said.
Fishel, who has known Myers since he was in third grade, said Myers doesn't shy away from expressing his opinion.
"For instance, at the first board meeting after the administration's decision to cancel the band's performance at a McCain rally, Baylor asked (Superintendent) Dr. Johnson for an explanation of that decision," she said. "Recently he expressed the opinion that the students would be in favor of adding girls lacrosse as a school sport."
Myers became the student representative to the board after he was elected student council president in May.
"I was attracted to the position of student body president because I am interested in government and I wanted to change certain aspects of our student government," he said.
Myers' platform consisted of three main goals: Bring back powderpuff to the school's homecoming festivities, enhance representation between students and their representatives and create a mailbox in which students could place concerns and comments.
"I have been able to accomplish all three of these goals and student council has been much more effective this year," he said.
Myers plans to attend Miami University next year, majoring in history.
"He has grown into a conscientious young man who takes seriously his responsibility on the board," Sutter said. "I expect big things from him in the future."
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