Divided board approves student rep proposal

by Sheldon Ocker

Oct. 20 board of education meeting

Split votes on issues brought before the Revere Board of Education have been rare, but in a 3-2 decision, the board approved a policy that allows two high school students to become unofficial members of the board.

The policy, entitled the Student Body Representative Leadership Program, will give one senior and one junior the opportunity to be unofficial school board members, of course, without a vote.

When the senior graduates, the junior likely will move into the “primary” position and another junior will be chosen for the secondary post.

The policy will be in effect for the 2026-27 school year. After that, there will be a re-examination.

The issue had been debated at work sessions since May, and a division among board members existed for almost that long.

Board President Kasha Brackett and board members Jeff Bowler and Jennifer Burke voted to pass the measure. Courtney Stein and Natalie Rainey voted no.

“My no vote is in no way indicative of the way I feel about the board or anyone on it,” Rainey said. “I appreciate the work that the four of you put in.

“My vote is just my opinion that the policy as written isn’t ready for implementation. There are a few pieces that haven’t been fully fleshed out, and I’m still not 100% convinced – having done this for a few years – that the school board is the most appropriate place for a student.”

In 2019, a Revere senior ran for the school board and won a seat. Mike Kahoe, then 18, served until February 2023, resigning to take a job in Columbus.

“I just don’t think that this policy has been fully thought through,” said Stein. “I think if we’re putting a student in this position, we owe it to that student and our district to try to think everything through, so I feel it’s not quite ready for a vote.”

The specifics of the policy:

To be eligible, a junior or senior must spend at least two consecutive years at Revere, maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average, have “satisfactory” attendance and be in good “disciplinary standing.”

Applicants must write an essay on why they want the position, submit a letter of recommendation from a school staff member or coach, gather the signatures of at least 40 students and be interviewed by the selection committee. Candidates also must have parental approval.

The selection committee will be composed of the superintendent, board president, high school principal, a school counselor and the sophomore class advisor.

The student body will elect the winner from among two finalists chosen by the selection committee.

The board had sought community input.

“I want to thank everybody who has taken the time to share feedback over the past six months,” said Brackett, adding, “While I recognize that the final version may not address every concern or reflect every preference, the policy before us does represent a genuine effort to slow down, find compromise and incorporate ideas from across the community.”

More high achievements

Director of School Performance Dan Oberhauser informed the board that after several years of scoring 3 on the progress category, the district posted a 4 on the 2025-26 State Report Card.

Revere again had an overall score of 5 (the highest possible) on the State Report Card. Only 8.09% of districts scored an overall 5.

The district’s performance index rose to 106.8, among the top 94.4% in Ohio.

Bath Elementary received a performance index score of 108.3, which Principal Dan Fry estimated is among the top 2.7% in the state.