Keeping tabs on MacArthur High

When the Levittown Board of Education meets each month, they get a little insight into the happenings at the district’s two high schools. And they hear it from the people who know these places best — the students.

Amaninder Thind, known to his friends and teachers as Aman, is one of two student liaisons to the school board this year. He is representing MacArthur High School, which serves the southern end of the district, including North Wantagh and northern Seaford. Thind, 16, of Wantagh, won an election at the end of last school year.

Chosen by his peers, Thind will give a monthly report telling the board and administrators about the accomplishments of his peers, both academic and athletic. “I feel like it’s a great position,” he said. “The Board of Education, they can really see what goes on in the district. It gives them a real sense of what’s going on in the school.”

Admitting he made a rookie mistake when he didn’t have a report ready for the September meeting, Thind was fully prepared this month. He said he appreciated the understanding of the administration and board as he settled into the position.

Noting the “sibling rivalry” with Levittown’s north side high school, Division Avenue, Thind said he wants to spread as much good news as possible about MacArthur. He added that he also wants to be there in case the board needs a student opinion about any initiatives it considers.

In preparing his reports, Thind said he speaks with Principal Joseph Sheehan and many of MacArthur’s roughly 1,200 students. “Each of them have a unique story that I can display in a great way,” he said.

“We believe the student representatives provide useful information to the Board of Education and the public at large at every meeting,” Superintendent Dr. Tonie McDonald said. “Their reports are not only informational, but give everyone a sense of what they, as students, value.”

McDonald, a former high school teacher in the district, said she is always happy to see the students and to hear what they have to say. “Board meetings can be very impersonal as we discuss broad issues and fiscal projections,” she said, “but our student representatives remind us all that there is a student behind every number we discuss.” 

Advice he was given before his first meeting was to be relaxed and look professional. Thind said he wants to use the opportunity to build his resume for college and improve his public speaking skills.

Taking Advanced Placement government this year, Thind is getting an close look at one of the most local levels of government. “It’s interesting to see how it works, how they vote on things, and how they express their opinions,” he said. “Before this, I had no knowledge of what goes on in the board meetings.”

He was also surprised by the large crowds at the meetings, typically filling the board room at the Levittown Memorial Education Center. “It really shows that the community cares about what goes on in the schools,” he said.

Thind, who attended East Broadway Elementary School and Jonas Salk Middle School before MacArthur, is now thinking about his post-high school life. He plans to study law and is in the college-search process, with Cornell University his top choice.

He is a member of the Business Honor Society. A torn labrum derailed his plans to play football this year, but the school board role has given him another way to be involved and represent his school.