Lynn Public Schools students will have an expanded voice with the formation of the Student Advisory Council, a group that will be working in partnership with the Lynn School Committee.
Five high school students were elected at their respective schools to serve on the Student Advisory Council, the existence of which is called for both in School Committee policy and state law. They met with LPS Superintendent Dr. Evonne S. Alvarez and other district leadership Tuesday and elected Lynn Classical senior Amelia Grace Stank chair. Stank will represent the Student Advisory Council at School Committee meetings starting September 11.
“I was interested in getting to know more about the school system from the inside,” said Stank, who participates in about 10 clubs at Classical and serves as class vice president, “and from a student perspective being able to make change.”
Stank regularly watches School Committee meetings and has spoken during the public comment period. She said she is excited about the opportunity to represent her fellow Classical students.
“I want to make sure people’s voices are heard,” she said. “I think I’m able to better represent other people than myself. I want to advocate for others, for a larger cause.”
The Student Advisory Council is separate from the Superintendent’s Student Cabinet, which was formed in 2024. That group meets monthly and offers the superintendent input on policy issues such as dress code and cell phone policy. The Student Advisory Council will be working with the School Committee on agenda items. Whereas in the past there have been students selected informally to sit at the School Committee meeting table, this is a more structured effort with a defined purpose that is grounded in LPS policy and state law.
“It’s critical for your voice and feedback to be given to School Committee members and myself,” Alvarez told the group.
Members of the group attending the first meeting included Stank, Lynn English senior Thomas Pakawon Ok, Frederick Douglass Collegiate Academy junior Jason Mao Chhoun and Lynn Tech senior Phong Dinh Tran.
“I like to take a leadership role within my peers,” Chhoun said.
Ok said he learned about the Student Advisory Council from history teachers and guidance counselors. “I thought it would be a good experience for me to be part of something like this,” he said. “I’ve always been interested in policy making and government and community groups.”
As a member of the National Honor Society, Tran has had the opportunity to “talk to so many smart people who are interested in becoming more than themselves,” said Tran, who is in the process of starting a Math Club at Tech. “They want to achieve their dream through college.”
LPS Compliance Officer Charlie Gallo told the group the School Committee is charged with “taking into consideration students’ opinions as they establish policies that directly affect students.”
“I am very excited for the Student Advisory Council and can’t wait to work with them,” said School Committee member Eric Dugan. “The goal is to elevate student voice in policy decisions and overall operations of the schools. This is an exceptional way to do that. I know that when you raise the bar for Lynn kids they will rise to it.”
