Madison Arthurs is pictured with Jamestown Superintendent Dr. Kevin Whitaker and Annika Spitzer. Arthurs and Spitzer are student members of the Jamestown Public Schools Board. P-J photo by Katrina Fuller

With governance, sometimes there is more than meets the eye.

Annika Spitzer and Madison Arthurs, student members of the Jamestown Public Schools Board, have learned a lot behind the scenes regarding the governance of a school district. The two became student board members through the National Honor Society at Jamestown High School and each said they have found their time working with the board extraordinarily valuable over the past few months. Both have said they now have a better understanding of how things work on the school board level.

The pair serve as public relations officers for the honor society, which landed them their role as ex-officio school board members. Spitzer and Arthurs are seniors at Jamestown High School.

“It really just kind of happened,” Spitzer said. “We saw that we could be co-public relations officers, and we love doing everything together. It was perfect for both of us.”

Spitzer added that she has learned a lot about the process of school leadership and governance during her time with the board.

“It’s really been incredible because I understand the process so much better when you actually show up to the meetings,” she said. “You realized that there are so many rules and procedures that every single person has to follow … to solve the problems that every school faces. We have to get creative within those boundaries. I guess what I’ve learned the most is an appreciation for what the board does and every conversation that they are willing to have. They are really trying to create the best school district that they can.”

“Every action takes so much decision making and time that we hadn’t really considered before,” Arthurs said. “We have an appreciation for the board and its members.”

Jamestown Public Schools District Superintendent Kevin Whitaker said the school board and the district in general benefits from having students involved in the process.

“The main benefit is really the thing I’m interested in general in which is the students’ voice,” Whitaker said, “and the opportunity for students to either be asked directly or to bring directly to the school board things that are great that are coming from student life, things that are challenges or even opinions.”

Whitaker said Spitzer and Arthurs were asked their opinions on various topics like the mascot and other discussions the board has had, and he said they had important feedback to offer.

“The students’ voice is incredibly important, and this is an opportunity for that,” he said.

Spitzer said her favorite aspect of the position has been to witness the school board in action, including in the recognition of a job well done. In one instance, she remembered the recognition of a teacher.

“It was just so authentic and real,” she said. “With everything crazy that’s going on and hard decisions that have to be made, it was beautiful to see a student and a parent recognize how much hard work teachers put in.”

The pair said students do come to them to inform them of issues and other things they’d like to make the board aware of from time to time. During their weekly honor society meetings, they are given an opportunity to discuss what’s happening and they invite comments from their fellow students to bring back to the school board.

Both Spitzer and Arthurs said they might be wary of becoming a publicly elected figure.

“With that position, you get a lot of backlash,” Spitzer said. “Sometimes I become frustrated to an extent (because) we’re like, ‘No, they have another rule to follow. That’s why they had to make that decision.’ That aspect is a little bit repelling from that position, However, you see how much good can happen in that position as well when a person with good intentions is able to be a part of something bigger. I think it can be beautiful.”

Arthurs said she agreed with Spitzer’s assessments.

“I think the public doesn’t realize or most of the public doesn’t realize how much of a process everything is, and so people just criticize every decision that someone in power makes without realizing everything that has gone into that,” she said. “I’m not sure if I’d be able to take all that backlash for everything I do. I think that would get to me — it would definitely take a toll on me. I don’t think I’d want to be in a great position of power, but behind the scenes is what I’d like.”

In the same vein, Spitzer invites the public to get involved in their local school board and see what the process is like.

“I want them to feel welcomed and let them know that everyone has the opportunity to have a voice,” she said. “There are specific parts of the meeting that are meant for public discussion. We want to hear parents and the community’s input and advice and personal stories so we can all have a better understanding because 10 or 15 people in a room as educated or as caring as we may be toward Jamestown Public Schools, we don’t know everything and we want to hear your voice.”