Danville Teen Pushes For Student Representation On SRVUSD Board

SAN RAMON VALLEY, CA — Monte Vista High School student Zaid Fattah is pushing to make student voices heard on the San Ramon Valley Unified School District.

Fattah, a finalist to serve as a student board member for the state Board of Education, became aware of a law that allows student members to serve on their school district boards through his work as a Bay Area representative for the California Association of Student Councils.

The 16-year-old high school junior is advocating for two student members serve on the SRVUSD Board of Trustees, to allow for male and female student representation. The student member(s) wouldn't be able to vote, but they would have time before every vote to explain and express their opinion, Fattah said.

"Having that student voice and being able to decide what is something that students actually need and really want ... (is) integral in making effective decisions," he said.

Fattah embarked on his campaign to collect 500 signatures, as required by law, on Jan. 14. He said he's already about halfway to his goal, after conducting outreach via social media and by recruiting help from a friend at Dougherty Valley High School.

Students have given him positive feedback, he said.

Fattah hopes to have met his goal by the next SRVUSD board meeting on Feb. 11.

If he's able to wrap up the petition soon, Fattah said student members could be elected in time for the next school year. He might even be interested in the gig, he said.

View the petition here. Only students can participate.