It’s a late Wednesday night at San Benito High School, but
17-year-old Mandisa Snodey is not doing her homework or returning
from sports practice.
Instead, the senior is listening attentively as school trustees
discuss finances, programs and other district news at their board
meeting.
Hollister – It’s a late Wednesday night at San Benito High School, but 17-year-old Mandisa Snodey is not doing her homework or returning from sports practice.
Instead, the senior is listening attentively as school trustees discuss finances, programs and other district news at their board meeting.
Snodey, who is a student representative on the school board, is not doing this to get into college nor does she get any school credit. Simply put, she is there because she enjoys being the conduit of information between students and staff, she said.
“Even if it’s a bunch of adults, I have a role to play there,” said Snodey, who was appointed to the position in spring 2004.
Snodey’s job – making sure the students’ side is represented at the meetings – is far from easy. She often has to sit through tedious discussions, but she also voices her opinion on topics like class scheduling or students-teacher relations.
Bill Tiffany, a San Benito High School board trustee said Snodey’s input on school issues is always relevant and is much appreciated.
“It’s been terrific working with her,” said Tiffany, a trustee elected in 2002. “She brings up issues that we otherwise wouldn’t have thought about.”
When she is not at the meetings, she is busy with a full load of classes such as physics and trigonometry and works at the fast food chain In n’ Out in Gilroy after school. After graduation, she is eyeing San Diego State University, where she hopes to major in hospitality and tourist management.
Snodey, who was born in Southern California, but moved to San Benito County six years ago, says she had always been interested in serving on the school board because of its unique opportunity to work with administrators on important school issues. She competed against four people for the position and had to go through several interviews with members of the elected student body to get the job.
Before becoming involved in student government, Snodey said she not only didn’t know what the school board did, she didn’t even know there was one.
“I’ve learned that the board has policies that they have to go by and that they have to take direction from the governor and the federal government and bring it (requirements) to the school,” she said.
She added that she respects the board members she works with and is grateful for having been “exposed to the bigger picture. I have a lot of admiration for the superintendent, principal and other administrators because they make the school function so smoothly.”
