The Lawrence Township school board reorganized with its first student representative and three newly-elected school board members at the board’s annual reorganization meeting Jan. 3.
Lawrence High School senior Sonia Pollock was sworn into office, along with Michele Bowes, Arundel Clarke, and Diana Pasculli. Bowes and Clarke were re-elected to the school board. Pasculli begins her first term.
Pollock is the first student who will sit at the table with the school board members and stay for the entire meeting. In previous meetings, selected Lawrence High School students made brief presentations on school activities at the beginning of each school board meeting, but did not stay.
Superintendent of Schools Robyn Klim welcomed Pollock to the school board. Pollock will have her own email account. She will communicate with Student Council representatives across the school district, and offer valuable input, Klim said.
Pollock is “super humble,” Klim said, listing the after-school activities in which Pollock has been involved. She has worked after school as a Starbucks barista, and volunteers at an animal shelter.
She is active in cheerleading, the Science Olympiad, the Peer Leadership program, Operation Smile, the Math League and the Lawrence High School Student Council. She is also a member of the National Honor Society, Klim said.
Pollock plans to pursue a career in medicine – specifically, neuro-radiology, Klim said.
In other business, the school board elected Bowes to serve as its president, and elected Amanda Santos to be the vice president.
Bowes thanked the school board for entrusting her to be the school board president. It has been a pleasure to serve on the school board, she said.
“I hope to continue to proudly serve our community, the teachers, the administration and most importantly, the students of Lawrence Township,” she said.
“I look forward to an amazing 2024 and to be working closely with Dr. Klim. I think it’s going to be a great year for everybody,” Bowes said.