DCS junior Ari Lowry and senior Santino Bailey have been appointed as the district’s ex officio student members of the Board of Education and will be officially sworn in on October 7, 2025. Additionally, Duanesburg senior Genna Rickert, who attends CTE at BOCES’ Schoharie campus, has been selected as an ex officio student member of the Board of Education for Capital Region BOCES.
Their appointments mark a significant milestone in the district’s commitment to student voice and leadership. Starting July 1, 2025, New York State requires all school districts to include at least one student on their Boards of Education to elevate student voices, build leadership skills, and promote civic engagement.
As student members, they will participate in all public board meetings but will not have voting rights and will be excluded from executive sessions where confidential student, personnel, or legal matters are discussed. They will serve as vital liaisons between the student body and the Board.
On Wednesday, September 17, all three students attended an all-day seminar at Capital Region BOCES in Albany, NY, alongside other students from the region who were selected to serve as ex officio Board members in their respective school districts. Featured speakers included Dr. Betty A. Rosa, New York State Commissioner of Education and President of the University of the State of New York, and Mr. Robert Schneider, Executive Director of the New York State School Boards Association.
Ari Lowry, daughter of Colleen and Ethan Lowry, has been a student at DCS since kindergarten. Ari is a member of the cross country and track & field teams, and is actively involved in Student Council, Yearbook Club, and Leo Club.
After participating in a BOE policy workshop last year, it became more clear to Lowry about the role that the BOE plays in a school community. “I realized that I had a lot of thoughts about the work they are doing and that I wanted to be more involved. When this opportunity came up it was perfect!,” she said.
Bailey, the son of Michael Bailey and Franchesca Damico-Bailey, has been a student at DCS since second grade. He is on the soccer and track & field teams, president of the Class of 2026, and a member of the National Honor Society. He also participates in Drama Club and Mock Trial, serves on the Superintendent’s Advisory Team, and volunteers as a peer tutor.
Bailey says that he has always had an interest in advocacy and is excited to be able to represent his fellow students in an impactful way. “Discussions over kindness and district programs to alleviate bullying would be topics enhanced by a student board member,” he said. “Most of all, I want to preserve kindness and equity in my school district.”
