Two HCPSS Students Compete to Become the 2023-2024 Student Member of the Board

March 29th, 2023

The Howard County Association of Student Councils (HCASC) will host the general election for the 2023-24 Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB) Wednesday, May 3. Lamia Ayaz, a junior from Howard High School, and Antonio Clay-Hardy, a sophomore from Wilde Lake High School, are candidates for the position.

Ayaz and Clay-Hardy were chosen by their peers at the HCASC Convention, held March 21. One hundred and thirty-eight student delegates (six from each high school and three from each middle school), nominated by their principals and peers to represent each middle and high school across the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS), attended the convention. Sixteen students ran for SMOB candidate, from which Ayaz and Clay-Hardy were chosen as finalists.

All 6th-11th grade HCPSS students are eligible to vote in the SMOB election, which will be conducted in Canvas. Schools will help facilitate the election process by setting aside class time for voting throughout the day on May 3.

The new SMOB will be sworn in this summer. They will be eligible to vote on all issues except those pertaining to budget, personnel, or other restricted matters.

HCASC student leaders facilitate and manage both the campaign and election process with guidance from the HCASC advisor and HCPSS staff. The SMOB election process aims to empower students to learn and put into practice the habits of mind it takes to serve as engaged and informed citizens. HCASC provides an enriching experience for candidates where they can find meaningful ways to lead and serve either as the next SMOB or in other HCPSS student leadership positions throughout the school system.

More information about the SMOB campaign and election process can be found on the HCASC website and through weekly Canvas messages sent through each school community