School Trustees Approve Student Advisory Board

yK -'C_ f ; '_ A foposal for a Student Advisory Board was informally approved last night by the Ann Arbor Board of Education, a surprise action because numerous criticisms had been made when it was presented . to the trustees March 15. Last night's report consisted of the revised recommendations made by a student ad hoc committee and the assistant superintendent assistant for community services, John Hubley. It was feit that most trustees might possibly support the proposed Student Advisory School Board if amendments were made to meet three main objections: f 'Communications a s p e ets - wërë not highl i g h t e d enough, senior high students were under-represented, and procedures for electing students were not acceptable." Amendments made were that each senior high school would elect three instead of two members to provide a more equitable apportionment in relation to junior high students, and that elections would be held by student governments according to the current procedures used for the selection of members to the bi-racial committees. The student board will be wholly an advisory body to the Board of Education and not partisan or political in organization. The election procedures state that for the high school representatives white candidates sign up on one list and black candidates on another. White students vote for white candidates and black students for black candidates on separate ballots. Through these procedures, which are the same used for electing members to the biracial committees, equal white and black representations are assured from each of the secondary schools, with the exception that an additional student will be i elected at large from each of the two high schools. I "Although it is clearlyl acknowledged that these! procedures do not meet the I objections of seyeral I trustees said Hubley, "they I are consistent with current goals oL ensuring minonty group input to the board and oL improving Communications for both whites and blacks to ] the board."