The Waterford-Halfmoon Board of Education has two newly elected members, senior Grace Figueroa-Davis and sophomore Allie Sheehan.

A new law in NYS requires that all school boards have at least one student member. Student members are not permitted to vote on board matters, and they cannot participate in executive or other closed-door meetings that are not open to the public.

As student body president and vice president, Grace and Allie were appointed to the Board and officially sworn in during the June meeting.

One of Grace's goals as a member of the Board of Education this year is to become a leader for her peers. 

"I want to be a voice for the opinions, concerns, and ideas of the student body and pave the way for other student board members," she said. 

Allie would like the Board to consider more opportunities for students to explore electives. 

"Going to a small school often means having a strict schedule without much leeway for electives. I hope to help create opportunities within the school to open doors that may be closed for students with restrictive schedules. I am currently in the midst of putting together a new club for our school to provide more opportunities for these students," said Allie. 

Both students hope that their time on the Board will help develop their leadership and communication skills. 

"Having students on our Board is important because it gives us a real perspective on what's happening in our schools from their point of view. I believe their input will help us make better decisions, and I hope it encourages other students to share their voices too," said Jack Catanzarita, Board of Education President.