The Halton District School Board is pleased to announce secondary school students Connor Clark and Kevin Meng as the Board’s Student Trustees for the 2018-19 school year. Both students were successful in their bid to be elected to the role at the Student Senate meeting in late April through a new electronic voting process.
Clark (pictured left) is a Grade 11 student at Nelson High School and Meng is a Grade 11 student at White Oaks Secondary School. The term for current Student Trustees Muqtasid Mansoor and Dasha Metropolitansky ends July 31, 2018 while the incoming student trustees’ term of office officially begins on August 1, 2017.
“I wanted to become student trustee because I believe that they have the power to inspire change and reform within the student body,” says Clark. “The Board is shaping policies for students to ensure they are receiving the resources required to be successful. It's crucial for students to be able to provide feedback and recommendations to the Board so students’ concerns, comments and questions are properly represented.”
“I think it is important for students to have a voice at the Board table because students are an important source of information for the Board administration,” says Meng. “As students, we experience first-hand the implementation of new policies, regulations and programs. In order to have a balance between the desires of students and the Board, I believe a student trustee should be a part of Board decision-making.”
As a Student Trustee, Clark said his goals include expanding the role of the Student Senate and ensuring student wellbeing. For Meng, his goals include expanding mental health initiatives and to increasing the availability of specialized education such as International Baccalaureate and Specialized High School Major programs.
In recognizing the results of the Student Trustee election, Trustees of the Halton District School Board welcomed Clark and Meng to their roles as Student Trustees for the 2018-19 school year.
“Outgoing Student Trustees Dasha Metropolitansky and Muqtasid Mansoor will be leaving an indelible mark on this Board as they represented Student Voice at the board table in innumerable issues as well as across this province,” says Andréa Grebenc, Chair of the Halton District School Board. “Beyond their extensive school schedules, they also managed the Halton District School Board Student Senate and were key in organizing the yearly student symposium held each May. We now welcome Connor and Kevin for the next term beginning in August. We are looking forward to the student trustees’ continuing endeavour to bring student voice to the table, and beyond. We have no doubt of the passion they will bring to their office this year.”