Long Island's new student school board members get a crash course in budgeting, debate and the importance of compromise

While many teens across the Island likely spent their sunny Thursday on a beach or at the pool, a group of about 15 Nassau County students deliberated on the impact of a school district introducing a Chromebook program without teacher integration training.

On one side a group led by 16-year-old Shivani Pillai, of the Sewanhaka school district, argued that teacher training was necessary before rolling out the program, so students could learn adequately. But another team saw the rollout in a different light.

Storm Krokan, 17, argued the Chromebooks would be a new tool that could help students learn. While not opposed to teacher training, the rising Mineola High School senior said it could be implemented later, after students had the devices in hand.

"To allow a student to have better access to knowledge at the end of day is the whole point," Krokan said.

The debate was part of a two-day conference hosted by Nassau BOCES in Westbury aimed at preparing incoming student school board members for their new roles this fall.

State officials in 2024 passed a law that required all New York school districts with a high school to include at least one student on their boards of education. While the students cannot vote on policy matters, lawmakers have said the goal is to promote civic engagement and allow students to share their perspectives in the board's decision-making.

This week's conference focused on helping the new school board members hone skills such as public speaking and networking, and teach them about school budgets and other board functions.

"We came up with a program that not only focuses on developing leadership skills, problem solving skills — all the skills that they would need to make them successful as a student board member — but then we also needed to teach them ... budgeting, procedures, policies, rules," said Nassau BOCES supervisor of outdoor and environmental education Craig Gielarowski, who led the program.

Teamwork and school budgets

The first day of the conference consisted of outdoor challenges aimed at strengthening resilience, teamwork and self-awareness, program officials said. The second day focused on learning the in-and-outs of being on a school board, with activities such as a mock board meeting, a lesson on open meeting laws and a session on budget items.

Brianna Dean, 17, will represent Valley Stream South High School on her district school board. She said she has always had a passion for advocacy, but at times was too shy to speak up. She said she joined the program to improve her public speaking as well as to learn the functions of a school board.

“I wanted to be the person I never thought I could be,” Dean said. “I wanted to be the person that could speak for others because I knew I was that person that couldn’t speak up."

Dean said the conference taught her the importance of compromising and effective communication.

"Everything is a discussion," she said.

Krokan, who will sit on the Nassau BOCES Barry Tech school board, echoed Dean’s sentiments. He also highlighted the benefits of networking with students from other districts.

"I think being able to spread out and network allows me to have more confidence in myself as a board member because I know people from all over the Island are having the same struggles," he said. 

Shawn Lisa Torres, supervisor of regional schools and instruction programs at Nassau BOCES, supervises the school system’s student board members. She said it’s important that these students understand that even though they might not have a vote on policy matters, their voice still makes a difference.

"We’re planting the seed now, so that it hopefully will grow and then they’ll all come back and be board members in their communities," she said.