Oakdale High School junior Sam Starrs has been elected the next Student Member to the Board of Education of Frederick County (SMOB). His one-year term officially begins July 1. Until then, Starrs will shadow current SMOB Mia Martinez from Brunswick High.
Frederick County middle and high school students participated in an online voting process to elect the 2021-2022 student Board member. This was the tenth year the student member was elected by online voting.
In addition to an application that the Frederick County Association of Student Councils’ (FCASC) Executive Board and SGA advisors reviewed, each candidate answered questions during a Town Hall format that FCPS televised and posted online in January. Each also submitted a one-page online platform statement.
At Oakdale High, Starrs has served as a member of the Student Government Association executive board. He was class president in both his freshman and sophomore years. Starrs is also an indoor track team captain.
In his platform, Starrs pledged to work on issues concerning mental health awareness and racial injustice.
The role of the student member of the Board (SMOB) is to bring a student viewpoint on educational issues to BOE meetings. SMOBs are expected to respect the diversity of students’ points of view, improve communication between the student body, staff and BOE members and inform students of board policies and decisions.