The board discussed the idea of changes to its bylaws to seat one student and one alternate to "serve in a non-voting capacity on the Wethersfield Board of Education."
Board member Tristan Stanziale objected to the procedure that would have the town committee of the majority part of the Board of Education select candidate(s) for the positions from the junior and seniors who submitted letters of interest before sending the names to the student body for a vote.
Stanziale said the process should not be partisan in any way.
School Superintendent Michael Kohlhagen said while the proposal was similar to other school districts with such a representatives he did not object to further discussion of the issue.
"I'm certainly up for discussion and revision as appropriate," he said.
Later in the discussion board Vice Chairwoman Julie Montinieri said she also did not object to tabling the issue and sending it for further discussion to the Policy and Planning Committee as Stanziale suggested. She did, however, offer a different take on the issue.
"I actually liked the issue of going to the town committee because that's what happens in real life," she said.
Montinieri also said it may help keep it from being just a popularity contest but did add that she was not "married" to the idea.
Some members also asked about the interest level. Raul Rodriguez said a similar initiative several years ago resulted in students who didn't come to meetings after the first one or two.
Penny Stanziale said those students were not elected and pointed out that life does get busy for students.
Kohlhagen said he anticipates a high level of interest from the student council at the school and from students interested in government and civic involvement.
The draft also includes provisions for attendance and gives the board the right to remove a student representative due to poor attendance.
The idea behind the students representative would be to give the students a "more effective voice" in the decision making process. They would be able to offer input on agenda items, receive agendas and minutes, report back to the student body and even suggest motions. Students would not attend executive sessions.
Kohlhagen also pointed out that the state legislature has talked about requiring such a system but has not done so yet.
"This is not an urgent matter but it is an important one," he said.
The board voted to table the issue.