Kid candidate raises a valid issue

We're impressed and heartened by Matthew Haile's 'campaign.”

The 13-year-old student at Franklin Middle School in Cedar Rapids wants to run for a seat on the School Board in 2015. Although it's not legally possible for Haile to put his name on the ballot or serve on the board, he told The Gazette's Meryn Fluker that he still plans to run a write-in effort. 'If we don't win, we make sure we made noise,” Haile said.

Some might dismiss Haile's effort, due to his age. But we say good for him, both for caring about how his school district is governed and for putting a dent in the persistent stereotype of apathetic kids uninterested in their communities.

And we think Haile is on to something when he says students should have more of a voice in decision-making.

The state Board of Regents, which governs Iowa's three universities, has a full-fledged student member who votes on policy issues. The Iowa State Board of Education, the board of directors for the Iowa Department of Education, has a non-voting student member who is a high school student appointed by the governor.

The Iowa State Association of School Boards doesn't keep track of how many school district boards have student representatives. But a quick Google search turned up the Johnston Community School District north of Des Moines, where a high school student serves as a non-voting board member.

The Cedar Rapids School Board should consider giving its more than 16,000 students a seat at the table, even if it's an honorary, advisory position. The impact would be overwhelmingly positive.

A student member would bring a fresh perspective to many issues. His or her presence on the board would serve as an empowering example for students and send a clear message that their concerns matter. A student member could also provide an important conduit for communication between the board and student body.

It would be up to the board and administration to work out the details on how such a position would be structured and selected. Perhaps Haile could be involved in that process. We're sure he has ideas, and wouldn't be afraid to express them.

By taking the idea seriously, the district can send a needed message to its students: Getting involved in the civic process, petitioning government leaders to consider your ideas, are fundamental to the health of the community.

' Comments: (319) 398-8292 or editorial@thegazette.com.