The Mayfield Central School District has again appointed student representation to the Board of Education. Seniors Mila Valachovic and Jayden Schur will be joining the board as ex officio student members for the 2025-26 school year. Valachovic will serve as the primary ex officio student member, and Schur will serve as the alternate.
Mila Valachovic participates in Varsity Soccer, Key Club, Masterminds, Book Club, Mural Club and Drama Club stage crew. She is also a current member of the National Honor Society. Upon graduation she hopes to attend Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences to become a pharmacist.
“I’m really happy to take on this leadership role and represent my peers,” said Valachovic. “Being on the board allows me to advocate for fundraising and volunteer opportunities for my class.”
Jayden Schur is a member of the Drama Club and Student Council. In her future she hopes to either attend law school or become a psychologist who works with children and adolescents.
“I’m excited to be able to help my classmates by bringing their concerns and ideas to the Board,” said Schur. “This is a great opportunity.”
A new law that took effect on July 1, 2025, requires all school districts and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services across the state to appoint at least one ex officio student board member. These student representatives will attend public meetings and serve as the voice of the student body. Student board members will serve in an advisory role and are not allowed to vote or attend executive sessions. They must also be high school students enrolled for at least one year.
Despite this being a new requirement of boards of education, having a student representative is not a new concept for the Mayfield Board of Education. For the 2024-25 school year, graduate Maya Rohling served as the student representative. Rohling was the Class of 2025 salutatorian, and now attends Penn State where she majors in political science with a goal of working in education reform.
“A student perspective is extremely helpful to the board when making decisions about our district,” said Chris Clapper, Superintendent of Schools. “We value our student body’s insight and are committed to making sure they are heard.”