Student Board of Ed Member: Francesca Barilla

If you've ever attended a meeting of the Board of Education this year and thought perhaps two of the board members looked a little young to be elected officials, you're partly right. They didn't run for the position, but were elected to the board by their peers when they were elected president of their class.

They're Kristie Botti and Francesca Barilla, the Sachem East and North student representatives on the board, respectively. Sachem Patch interviewed both students as a way of introducing them to the community in their coveted role as honorary board members. Each year the board is represented by one student from each high school campus. They do not cast a vote in the proceedings, but they do get a ringside seat to all the action and learning experiences of sitting on the horseshoe.

We spoke with Francesca Barilla, the Sachem North representative:

SP: How did you wind up becoming the North representative on the School Board?

Francesca Barilla: Well, last year I was really involved in the junior class government as the secretary and I wanted to be more involved during my senior year. My teacher Mr. Olsen suggested that I'd run for the student government president position. So I made posters and made a speech on the announcements and my classmates elected me to represent them on the board of education.

SP: Are you interested in politics or school administration as a career?

FB: My major in college is going to be environmental engineering. But I hope to go to law school afterwards to study environmental law. Maybe in my adulthood when I have my own children I will consider being on the board of education for their school district.

SP: How do you find the school board meetings? Educational? Interesting? Boring?

FB: I find the board meetings to be interesting and informative. I like to know what's going on in my district. My favorite is when they recognize people in the beginning of the meeting. I love seeing my friends and teachers get acknowledged for a job well done.

SP: Have you ever felt the desire during those meetings to "second" a motion or cast a vote?

FB: I would love to cast votes at the meetings. Especially ones that concern my friends and favorite teachers. Unfortunately, my vote does not count.

SP: What is something most of your classmates don't know about the Board of Education?

FB: My classmates definitely do not realize the stress that board members experience and how hard this team of people works to provide the best education for us everyday given the available resources.

SP: What do you think is the greatest challenge the board faces for Sachem Schools?

FB: I'm going to have to say the huge twenty six million dollar deficit that we are facing. It is literally the elephant in the room and it is going to take endless hours of work to discover a solution. It is a daunting task.

SP: What do you think your classmates would like to see done differently from the way things are done at your school?

FB: I think a lot of my classmates would agree that they would like to have more free reign when choosing their classes. Oftentimes we are forced to take a class that does not pertain to what we want to do in the future.

SP: What are your focuses in school? Do you play a sport? Are you involved in any upcoming school events?

FB: The past three years I was on the soccer team and the winter track team. I have played lacrosse throughout high school and I am currently on the varsity lacrosse team. They are my second family and I love them more than anything. There are a lot of events I am looking forward to. Right now student government is trying to get a dodgeball tournament together. And of course senior trip to Washington, D.C. As well as senior prom and senior day will all be fantastic, unforgettable experiences.

SP: What can you say you have gained the most from the experience of sitting on the Board of Education?

FB: I have met numerous fantastic people. From the people who are recognized to my fellow board members sitting next to me I have truly met amazing people. Also, I have gained a greater understanding of the complex inner workings of my school district.