Howard County Policy 2010 specifies that Howard County students in grades 6-11 shall have the opportunity to elect the Student Member of the Howard County Board of Education (SMOB) to a one-year term. The responsibilities of this position are extensive. The student member must spend at least two evenings per month in attendance at BOE meetings. Considerable time prior to each meeting must be devoted to reviewing policies and programs scheduled for action or review by the BOE. In addition to the twice-monthly meetings, the student member attends public BOE functions and all Howard County Association of Student Council (HCASC) meetings.
It is now time to receive applications for the next Student Member of the Howard County Board of Education. Any current sophomore or juniorin Howard County may apply for this position. The student must be regularly enrolled in a Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) high school, academically eligible, and a junior or senior in the 2018-2019 school year. The student elected by the students of Howard County will serve a one‑year term on the Howard County Board of Education, July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019.
Applicants must submit an application, a resume, essay responses, a confirmation of academic eligibility signed by a guidance counselor, the principal’s recognition that the student is running for this position, a statement of parent permission, and two letters of recommendation. The applicant must assemble the complete application packet and return it to Ms. Cindy Drummond, HCASC Advisor, HCPSS, 10910 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042 or by email cindy_drummond@hcpss.org. The complete application packet must be received no later than 4:00 pm on Friday, February 9, 2018. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
All applications will be checked for completeness and eligibility. All applicants and their parents or guardians must attend a Guidelines and Expectations meeting at 6:00 pm on Monday, February 12 at the Board of Education (BOE). Student Member applicants may not campaign or reach out to delegates or convention organizers in any way prior to convention.
A student delegate convention will convene Wednesday, February 21, 2018, to review the Student Member of the Board of Education applicants and nominate the final two candidates who will run for the Student Member of the Board of Education position. Delegates will represent every middle and high school in accordance with Policy 2010.
The candidates selected will then participate in the campaign process by creating and distributing campaign materials, including a video to be produced by HCASC and the HCPSS Television Studio that will be shown at all voting schools. Guidelines for this process will be distributed to the candidates and parents at an information meeting on March 1. Until then, no campaigning may begin.
Dates to remember:
February 9, 2018 Completed application packets due to Ms. Cindy Drummond by 4:00 pm
February 12, 2018 Mandatory Guidelines and Expectations Meeting Board of Education 6:00 pm
February 21, 2018 Student Delegate Convention held at Wilde Lake High School
March 1, 2018 Meeting of nominated candidates and a parent/guardianBoard of Education 6:00-7:00 pm
April 18, 2018 Election in middle and high schools