School Board

Members of the Richfield Public School District Board of Education set the vision and goals for the District, monitor progress and ensure accountability. Every decision they make is centered on what is best for students and incorporates student input throughout the process—from listening sessions with students to the inclusion of student board representatives. Student voice is reflected in the school board's policies, each of which is reviewed at least every five years to ensure continued alignment with the vision of the board and the needs of students, staff and families.

Photo above (left to right): Board Clerk Tim Pollis, Treasurer Kirk Spencer, Director Rachel Banks Kupcho, Student Board Representative Chimdalu Dibua, Vice Chair Eric Carter, Superintendent Steven Unowsky, Student Board Representative Paola Hernandez Zuniga, Board Chair Paula Cole, Director Ken Liss. Not pictured: Student Board Representative Gerardo Castañeda Lopez. 

Student board representatives attend board meetings and provide board members with their perspectives on agenda items. They are key in providing student voice at the board level, and they frequently bring issues back to their high school peers and share what they hear from the board. 

At the beginning of each school year, the RHS administrators advertise openings for student representatives, and interested students must fill out an application. The RHS administration interviews the interested students and selects representatives. Students then meet with the superintendent and board chair to ensure they understand the expectations and want to commit to the role. Student board representatives are eligible to receive a stipend of $600 per calendar year in which they serve on the board, or to decline the stipend and count the time as volunteer service hours.