Northern Virginia Del. Alfonso Lopez didn’t find any traction for it last year, but he has returned with a bill that would mandate that every school system in Virginia – about 130 of them – include a student representative on the dais.
This would not be a revolutionary experience in Fairfax County, as Fairfax County Public Schools has had a student rep (currently without voting powers) for more than a half-century. But it certainly would represent a change in many jurisdictions, including neighboring Arlington, which do not.
We’d be awfully surprised if most school systems and the Virginia School Boards Association, whatever they might say in public, really want this particular innovation handed down from Richmond. But we’re not particularly opposed to it, and could be convinced it indeed is a worthwhile step.
We’ll keep on top of its progress and report back.