I feel like students really need to get more involved with the government.”

Shyla Henson

Two new faces joined the ISD 200 School Board as the student board members returned to the table at the board’s regular meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
Juniors Shyla Henson and Avery Durfee joined returning student board members seniors Aidan Suarez Garcia and Jen Behnke.
Student board members provide reports on the happenings of school across the district in addition to being able to talk during board discussions. They are not voting members.
Staring next month, the student board members will begin providing reports with Behnke reporting on the middle school, Suarez Garcia reporting on the high school, Durfee reporting on Crista McAuliffe and Pinecrest, and Henson reporting on Tilden and Kennedy.
As to why they joined, both Durfee and Henson cited their involvement in Youth in Government (YIG) as a factor.
“I feel like students really need to get more involved with the government,” said Henson.
“Even at home, hearing both of my parents talk about the school board election and who they decided to vote for, I kind of didn’t know a lot about it, and so I really wanted to get more involved,” said Durfee.
The two returning student board members offered this advice to their new counterparts:
“Stay updated on what we are going through […] be present and don’t be afraid to speak,” said Suarez Garcia.
It was a point underscored by Behnke: “I wish we had spoken sooner, because there are issues that are actually affecting us and its affecting us from inside, so speak.”
Board members hearing from students within the district was part of the original push to bring students to the school board.
“It’s important to have that perspective because we’re old,” quipped Director Matt Bruns.

Raider update
Superintendent Dr. Kristine Wehrkamp Herman recognized Marissa Welch who is the 2025 Boys Tennis Assistant Coach of the Year.
“Recognition is not what coaching is about. For me, it is an opportunity to share my love of sports and develop the whole person. It is in moments that display and teach positivity, authenticity, grit and service. This is what you will hear on the tennis courts as I introduce myself and continue to uphold all season long and what you will see in the AVID classroom at school,” said Welch in a letter to the board.
Wehrkamp Herman also recognized the board itself in honor of September being School Board Appreciation Month: “this can be a thankless job […] Thank you everyone for the time you put in. We really value it.”

Data requests
Since the last board meeting, the district has received three data requests, none of which are anonymous, according to Cathy Moen, Director of Human Resources.
There were no costs to report associated with data requests either. Those costs, usually having to do with redactions and legal review of requested materials, lags behind data requests, often reported months afterword.

Community Collaboration Meeting
The board also announced its schedule for upcoming Community Collaboration Committee meetings.
Community Collaboration Committee meetings are opportunities for the public to meet with board members and district staff outside of regularly scheduled board meetings and work sessions.
The first meeting is scheduled for Oct. 2 and will be a meet-and-greet with Wehrkamp Herman as well as a demonstration of the high school’s new Anatomage table.
Future upcoming Community Collaboration are set for Jan. 12 and April 1, 2026.