Dear Parents and RHHS Community:
 
The Education Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland authorizes the election of a student member of the Howard County Board of Education.  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 to a one-year term. 
 
The responsibilities of this position are extensive.  A copy of the position description is enclosed for your information.  The student member must spend at least two evenings per month in attendance at Board meetings.  Considerable time prior to each meeting must be devoted to reviewing policies and programs scheduled for action or review by the Board.  In addition to the twice-monthly meetings, the student member attends public Board 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 junior in Howard County may apply for this position. The student must be regularly enrolled in an HCPSS high school, academically eligible, and a junior or senior in the 2016-2017 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, 2016 to June 30, 2017.
 
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 Route 108, Ellicott City, MD  21042 or by Fax:  410-313-5661. The complete application packet must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 12, 2016.  Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
 
All applications will be checked for completeness and eligibility.  A nominating panel will convene on Tuesday, February 23, to nominate two candidates. Eligible applicants will be given appointments to appear before the panel for an interview.  Serving on the panel will be the current Student Member of the Board, the HCASC President, the HCASC 2nd Vice President, an SGA Advisor from a school not represented by the applicants, and the HCASC Advisor.
 
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 12, 2016             Completed application packets due to Ms. Cindy Drummond by 4:00 p.m.
• February 23, 2016             Meeting of panel to interview qualified applicants and to nominate two candidates, Central Office, Room ML 2, 3:00-7:00 p.m.
• March 1, 2016                   Meeting of nominated candidates and a parent/guardian Board of Education
• April 20, 2016                    Election in middle and high schools

 
Please help HCPSS and the citizens of Howard County by seeking out students who may be interested in this position, encouraging strong candidates to apply, and helping students complete the application. 
 
                                                            Ms. Cindy Drummond, Advisor
                                                            Howard County Association of Student Councils
                                                            Howard County Public School System