Powered by recommendations from teaching staff and community leaders, Jackson was selected May 24 from a pool of three students who applied for the position by county school delegates in the Prince George’s Regional Association of Student Governments. She will take office next month to replace outgoing member Jonathan Harris II.
“I’m really excited about being up there, and eventually the nerves will go away and they’ll be replaced by excitement,” Jackson said.
She ran for the chance to influence school system decisions and represent all county students, not just Flowers students. The student school board member is not allowed to vote on school closings, the budget or personnel issues.
School board member Henry P. Armwood (District 7) of Ritchie said that Jackson can vote on school curricula and board business and take part in budget discussions but that she cannot vote on the budget, something he wishes would change.
“That is one of the most impactful things for students,” Armwood said of the budget. The student members I have worked with, Mr. [Jonathan] Harris in particular, I have been impressed with, and I feel that they do understand the issues, and they bring a perspective from the students that we should hear.”
Some of Jackson’s suggestions include combining bus routes for students in talented and gifted schools or science and technology programs to save the system money on transportation. An example is reducing the number of buses that come to pick up those students if there are fewer students from one particular neighborhood enrolled in a program. Armwood said Prince George’s Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. is planning to form a task force of community, school system and mass transit officials to give suggestions in September on how to improve transportation.
Jackson also wants to relax restrictions on community service hours, such as the rule that they cannot be completed at religious institutions.
“You’re not necessarily telling people to recognize your religious views, because volunteer work is volunteer work,” she said.
Armwood said that policy is in place because Prince George’s needed to align with state guidelines mandating that they cannot be completed at places such as churches or mosques.
“I personally would welcome a change in that policy, but that is not within our power, I don’t believe,” Armwood said.
Faith’s mother, Jennifer Jackson, said her daughter is “absolutely delighted” about her new position. Jennifer Jackson said government has always been an interest of Faith’s, especially after she lobbied the school system to take Advanced Placement government as a sophomore — a course usually restricted to upperclassmen. Faith succeeded, even scoring a 5 — the highest possible — on the exam, Jennifer Jackson said.
“Running for the school board is just another way of demonstrating her interest in the process of how things are done,” Jennifer Jackson said. “She will have constructive ideas to offer, and I’m sure she will learn a lot from the system and will contribute a lot.”
Outgoing student board representative Harris, a former Thomas Pullen classmate of Jackson’s, gave her advice, reminding her that not only will she be a board member, but also a student preparing for college. Harris, a Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. graduate, told her that time management is key. Jackson said Harris told him about twice-a-week board meetings as well as scheduled visits to schools to talk about anti-bullying.
Jackson is in the Flowers High science and technology program and groups such as the National Honor Society and the varsity soccer and swim teams. She is also secretary for the school’s chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers.
Jackson hopes to meet with board members soon. She also intends to get caught up on Harris’s efforts to get full voting powers for the student board member. “I’ll definitely see where he left off and try to continue,” Jackson said.
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