Sometimes, getting the general public to show up for school board meetings can be a challenge. For three Bensalem High School seniors, it is a privilege. 

Bensalem High School Seniors Anna Marks, Daphne Gao and Jay Kamdar represent their class on the Bensalem school board, participating in monthly meetings and getting a front row seat to the civic system that powers their district.

Of the roughly 35 students who applied to be representatives on the board, according to principal Geoffrey Per, the trio was selected to present a monthly report at action meetings. 

In October the students updated the board on Bensalem High School’s bonfire event, a win against crosstown soccer rival Holy Ghost Preparatory School and the ongoing Mini-THON shoe drive.

“I’ll tell anyone that wants to listen: these three kids, not only do they have a bright future, they’re way smarter than me, and they are a great example of our wonderful students here at the high school,” said Per.

Getting involved

Before attending a school board meeting, Kamdar found the prospect daunting. 

“It’s not that I didn’t want to know what was going on in our school district,” Kamdar said. “It’s more so it didn’t feel very accessible.”

At his first session in September, to the contrary, he found the meeting to be digestible. There was not a large amount of complex legal jargon and residents could easily show up.

For Kamdar — with an interest in pursuing a political career — attending school board meetings provides an opportunity for exposure to civics on a local level.

In addition to learning more about how the legislative body functions, he gained in-depth insights into what is going on in the school, information he might not have known about had he not been at the meeting.

“What are the kids that are also my friends achieving, and how significant are those achievements?” Kamdar said.

Amplifying voices

At every school board meeting in Bensalem, students are highlighted. However, generally without many in attendance, it can be difficult for young people to make their voice heard.

Gao said she felt like there was limited communication between the board and the students themselves.

“I wanted to be able to have that leadership role to be able to speak for people at BHS and represent them,” she said.

Having been a member of the district her whole life, Gao thought it was important she supported her peers.

“I wanted to be able to have that leadership role to be able to speak for people at BHS and represent them.” – Daphne Gao

She said she knew the board made significant decisions, but she did not know the exact ins and outs of the group. What Gao found was that there is a great deal being done behind the scenes to serve students.

According to her, to truly understand the work being put in at the monthly sessions, people need to experience it for themselves.

“To know that there’s like a group of adults behind you, trying to make your life better on a day-to-day basis is really gratifying for me,” Gao said.

Seeing the system in action

Marks had seen school board agendas, but said actually attending and seeing that schedule in action was an illuminating experience. 

It was interesting for her to see the process of creating the policies that affect her day-to-day life as a student. 

“It wasn’t really arguing, but going back and forth on stuff and seeing the deliberation happen and seeing how the things that really impact our school district come out,” Marks said.

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As the academic year continues, Marks hopes to see what new policies the board creates. With each new addition, she also is interested in how the members tackle disagreement. 

“I think that the true character comes out of people when they’re faced with adversity,” Marks said. “So I’d love to see that come out of the school board and see who everyone really is and like how they can find a respectful conclusion.”

Listening to students

Superintendent Victoria Velazquez explained that hearing from students is essential to Bensalem’s progress as a district. She wants to ensure that they are part of the change.

“Sometimes we learn a lot more from them than they do from us,” Velazquez said. “That’s why it’s important their voice is heard all the time.”