Wantagh board to learn from student reps

A lot happens at Wantagh High School every month, and there’s no one who keeps better tabs on these events than the students themselves.

That’s why two seniors serve as liaisons to the Board of Education, attending the monthly business meetings to report about the many happenings at the high school. This year, the student representatives are Kaitlyn Von Runnen and Megan Daly, the president and vice president, respectively, of student government.

The girls, who first met in middle school, have been involved in the General Organization since they were freshman. They were among about 30 students who applied for five open positions. Together, they rose through the ranks and their leadership posts have earned them tickets to monthly board meetings, where they get to sit in the front of the auditorium with Wantagh’s decision makers.

Von Runnen has been to three meetings so far, and on Sept. 18 gave a report about some of the activities that have already happened, and some events on the horizon, such as Homecoming and various fundraisers. She also filled in twice last year, when she was vice president of student government and the co-presidents served on the board. Daly is expecting to make her first appearance in October.

“I like being able to represent the school as a whole,” said Von Runnen who, along with Daly, speaks for 1,081 peers. “I like the students being able to rely on us, knowing there’s someone speaking on behalf of them.”

She said her goal is make the Board of Education aware of all the “little things” that happen at Wantagh High School. The students do a lot outside the classroom, she explained.

Assistant Principal James Brown noted that this is seventh year the district has student representatives, and the positions were created at the request of the Board of Education. The jobs have evolved over the years, but it has always given trustees a chance to get the perspective of the students.

Board President Anthony Greco said that the students who serve in the position are always of the highest caliber who have their fingers on the pulse of the high school. “It’s important to have the students on the board,” he said. “They keep us informed of all the student activities going on.”

Von Runnen attended Forest Lake Elementary School, and Daly got her start at Mandalay. The pair are very active at the high school. They both are on the Class of 2015 committee, which raises money and organizes events for the senior class, and have been selected to the National and Foreign Language honor societies.

Daly is on the varsity swimming team and is a member of the Spanish Club. Von Runnen plays soccer and is on the Business and Tri-M Music honor societies. Outside of school, she teaches religious education at St. Frances de Chantal Church, is a Girl Scout currently working on her Gold Award community service project, and was on the Miss Wantagh Court.

The daughter of a New York City firefighter, Daly spends time with families who lost a loved one in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. She is also an assistant swimming coach in Queens.

Although the two keep busy in school, serving as student liaisons to the Board of Education have opened their eyes even further. “We’re involved,” Von Runnen said, “but you don’t realize how much every club does.”

The pair said they got good advice from last year’s student representatives: don’t panic, keep calm and pay attention. Daly said she hopes that the Board of Education sees their presence as a valuable resource. “They can actually get a student’s opinion,” she said.

Von Runnen said her limited experience so far attending board meetings has given her some insight into how a school district runs. “I think it’s interesting,” she said. “You don’t realize it, but it’s a very big business.”