Walt Whitman High School Senior Gracie DeMarinis will serve as the Ex-Officio Student Member of the South Huntington Board of Education for the 2024-2025 school year. She was approved unanimously by board members at the BOE meeting on Wednesday, September 18th.

Gracie is the fourth student to hold the ex-officio seat since South Huntington voters approved the position in 2021. At that time, New York State required that the question of allowing an ex-officio student member had to be put to voters. Now, that board position is about to become state law. This September, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill that mandates every school board and BOCES board in the state have at least one ex-officio student representative. Student board members are not allowed to vote or attend executive sessions. The law goes into effect on July 1, 2025 putting South Huntington years ahead of the mandate.  

Walt Whitman High School principal John Murphy says the ex-officio member makes an important connection between the student body and the overall district. “It allows a board and an administration to get viewpoints they necessarily wouldn't have without student input. Many times adults make decisions for students who don't know how kids or young adults feel about it,” said Dr. Murphy. 

Gracie, who had to apply for the position and go through a few tough interviews, is excited to get the chance to help all students have a voice. “My South Huntington experience has been so, so good. I thought this would be such a cool position for me to be in. And it gives me almost an excuse, I guess, to talk to everyone including the younger kids,” explained Gracie. 

As a student in the South Huntington district since kindergarten, Gracie knows that the younger grades need a voice too. “They have such different perspectives and outlooks on things. I get to listen to them and speak for all my peers.”

One issue Gracie already knows her high school peers are not happy with is the cell phone policy. At Whitman, students are required to place their cell phones in a multi-pocket holder in the front of the classroom as they walk in. They retrieve them as they leave class. Students can use their phones between classes, in study hall, and in the lunchrooms. Gracie believes it’s a good policy. “We’ve got to get kids in the mindset because it actually is distracting. And I'll even admit it. I've been distracted by my phone. So I'm really glad that I'm being encouraged to put it away. You don't need it,” said Gracie. She’ll also be an advocate for continued support for students’ mental health and social-emotional wellbeing.

Principal Murphy says the high-achieving student was a great choice for the job. Gracie has been inducted into six honor societies including English, World Language, and the National Honor Society. She runs on Whitman’s Girls Varsity Winter Track team and performs in the high school theater productions. She’ll also participate in this year’s Powder Puff Football game during Homecoming Weekend. “She's somebody who exemplifies the qualities that we want every student to have, to be outgoing, to get out there and be a part of the school community,” said Dr. Murphy.

As a senior, Gracie will also spend time this year getting ready for college. She wants to be a nurse, and going to the University of Virginia to get her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is at the top of her college wish list. She’d like to work in anesthesiology, specifically, labor and delivery. 

Despite all the extracurricular activities she’s already involved in, Gracie says she’ll find the time to make the evening school board meetings, travel around to our various schools to talk with students, and get homework done. She already feels welcome sitting with the board in a room that’s usually packed with adults. “It's so professional, and everyone wants to hear what I have to say. And I felt heard, and I felt acknowledged.”