Lewiston-Porter Board of Education has its first student representative in Kaitlyn Szarejko

By Madeline Dorobiala

A Lewiston-Porter High School senior recently became the first student representative on the district’s board of education.

Kaitlyn Szarejko is serving as an ex officio member of the Lewiston-Porter School Board. The senior has served as president for her school’s student council, the Lancer Council, and has been a member of both Lew-Port’s volleyball and track teams, along with Spanish club and Key Club. Kaitlyn has also contributed photography to the school yearbook.

“It seems like a really great opportunity to step up my skills in a governmental-type position and really get to be that person that the students can go to for help and talk to me, kind of just about different things in school,” Kaitlyn said.

Last year, the Gov. Kathy Hochul’s budget encouraged New York districts to add a student representative to school boards of education. This position allows students to serve as additional communication between their peers and the board.

Paul Casseri, superintendent of the Lew-Port district, spoke with High School Principal Christopher D’Anna about a plan to add a student to the board. From there, D’Anna worked with the student council and Lori Hurtgam, the administrator of the club, to select a student who fit the role.

Kaitlyn was chosen for the primary role, while junior Zoe Droegmyer was selected as an alternate. Zoe works with Kaitlyn and steps in when Kaitlyn can’t attend a board meeting.

“I’ve known Kaitlyn for years, beginning when I coached her as she played second base on the Lew-Port softball team,” School Board President Joseph Palermo said. “Even then, I knew she was a special young woman – smart, polite and a natural leader.”

Even though Kaitlyn can’t vote on major decisions, she is still able to discuss the topics that are being voted on by the board. With the information she gathers, she shares it with her peers and gets the students’ perspective on it. She then shares that perspective with the board.

“She does a presentation each month,” Casseri said. “She and Lori either will meet with me a couple days prior, just to go over it. They always email it to me, just so we’re on the same page.”

Along with Casseri and Palermo, Kaitlyn has also noticed a change in the student body. As a result, she hopes that students will share more ideas with the next ex officio member.

“We talked about how there was a problem with parents in the parking lot and they weren’t going to the correct spots,” Kaitlyn said. “And we were able to go from the students, go to me, and relay it to the board, and I know we’ve had a lot of improvement with that.”

With the new phone policy implemented, it had been a difficult adjustment for Lewiston-Porter High School. The major concern from the board was whether the students would rebel.

D’Anna reported to the board that the adjustment had positive results. However, the board was only hearing the feedback from a principal’s perspective.

“She’s (Kaitlyn) right in the mix,” Palermo said. “So, that’s just one example of why it’s important to have the student body insight.”

Casseri was open to the idea of having a student on the board and, when it was implemented by the state, he fully supported the proposal.

“This was a total positive, total win-win,” Casseri said. “In fact, it was exciting to implement. The board was super excited about it.”

Orleans Niagara BOCES and the Erie County School Boards Association provided training for students chosen for the role. Casseri and a board member attended training in Alma with Kaitlyn earlier in the process.

Kaitlyn has taken this role seriously, implementing the necessary steps for this role to continue to be successful, even after she graduates from high school.

“This role is really flexible, so you can do a lot of different things with it,” Kaitlyn said. “I hope that she’s (Zoe) able to see what I’ve done, and we’ve been able to communicate about different things, and she’s able to continue that.”

Kaitlyn said she appreciates the support from Hurtgam and the board as she adjusts to the role. She has noticed the role has strengthened her skills in prioritizing and time management, as well.

Kaitlyn recently committed to Clemson University, where she will study engineering. She is thrilled about her decision and hopes to use the skills she acquired at Lew-Port toward the numerous clubs the university provides.