New Student Member Elected To Anne Arundel Board Of Education

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Representatives elected Bunmi Omisore as the next student member on the Anne Arundel County Board of Education. Anne Arundel County Public Schools announced the results last Thursday.

Omisore is a current junior and a rising senior at Arundel High School. The other two finalists were Fletcher Port of Severna Park High School and Natalie Smith of Broadneck High School.

"I am speechless, knowing that I have made two great friends during this election with my fellow candidates," Omisore said in a press release, noting that she is a first-generation American whose parents emigrated from Nigeria. "I have the support of the students on Anne Arundel County, I feel like the luckiest girl."

The Member-Elect

Omisore wants to focus on:

• Returning to school as coronavirus vaccines continue and cases decline
• Modifying the curriculum to increase the representation of Black, Indigenous and People of Color and the LGBTQ+ community
• Expanding learning opportunities for neurodiverse students
• Bolstering lessons on healthy relationships and dating violence prevention

The student board member-elect has also:

• Co-founded Arundel's Equity Leadership Council
• Planned and led weekly forums
• Created professional development content for school staff
• Organized a book study for students and employees to explore racial issues
• Crafted a similar study for residents of Odenton, Crofton and Gambrills
• Served as a member of a student mental health group called the Board of Directors of Modern Divergence
• Worked as a representative on Superintendent George Arlotto’s Teen Advisory Committee

The Election Process

The Chesapeake Regional Association of Student Councils conducted the election. The student interest group, also known as CRASC, is composed of middle and high schoolers who represent all of AACPS.

CRASC allocates delegates to secondary schools based on their size. These delegates then voted on behalf of their schools in the student board member election.

School officials will now forward Omisore's nomination to Gov. Larry Hogan, who must officially appoint her. The governor traditionally accepts whoever the students elect.

Omisore would succeed Drake Smith, who is graduating from Meade High School. Smith's one-year term ends on June 30. If confirmed, Omisore would start her yearlong tenure on July 1.

The History

Omisore would be the fifth Arundel student on the board and the first since the 2004 to 2005 school year. She would be the 48th student member of the board, also known as the SMOB.

"Knowing that I am the first SMOB from Arundel High School in 17 years and the first Nigerian member of the Board is surreal," Omisore added.

Students have been on the board since 1974 when Andover High School’s Jeffrey Robinson held an advisory role. The student board member gained full voting rights in 1975. Anne Arundel's student member is the only one in the country who has completely equal rights to their colleagues on the board.

Editor's Note: The author of this story, Jacob Baumgart, attended Arundel High School and ran to be the student board member for the 2016 to 2017 school year. He did not win the election.

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RELATED:

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