Brianna Bravo, a Waukegan High School sophomore, and junior Melanie Fernandez Rosales made history this week as the first duo to simultaneously become student members of the Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 Board of Education.
Starting in 2018, the board first chose candidates to then be elected by the high school student body as a nonvoting student member. Last fall, the board revised its policy allowing two members simultaneously — one from the Washington campus and another from Brookside.
Rosales and Bravo took their oath of office during a regularly scheduled board meeting Tuesday at the Lincoln Center administration building in Waukegan ahead of their one-year term starting Monday.
Board member Anita Hanna was elated. She said when she first suggested placing a student on the board in a nonvoting position, she wanted there to be two, not one. Now she will see her plan complete.
“This is wonderful,” Hanna said. “This is such progress with our student board members. I’d like to tell the student board members, keep the focus on our fellow students.”
Though they took their oath of office Tuesday before their term officially starts, they sat on the dais watching how their elders conduct a board meeting. The term runs for an entire school year, from July 1 to the following June 30.
“I’m looking forward to the new school year and the new policy,” said Rosales, who will represent the Washington campus for juniors and seniors. “I hope to help with new policies.”
Bravo, who will represent the freshmen and sophomores at Brookside, said she wants to get involved with student programs. They will not be exclusively for high school because she sees her role as having a voice for students in the elementary and middle schools as well.
A violinist in the school orchestra and a member of the Mariachi Estrella group, Bravo said she wants to see all students have an opportunity to learn to play an instrument at an early age.
“I want to bring opportunities in schools where they do not have a voice. Students shouldn’t have to wait so long to take music,” Bravo said. “Cooke (Magnet Elementary School) is the only one with music in kindergarten. All the others start in fifth grade.”
Also a violinist, Rosales said she hopes to help create a more positive attitude among her schoolmates, and help develop an attitudinal change at both campuses. She wants all students to achieve their potential.
“I want students at both schools to aim higher in life, and look forward to bigger opportunities,” Rosales said.
When school opens for the 2024-2025 term in August, Rosales will be new to the Washington campus after spending her first two years at Brookside. She will have to get used to a campus which is nearly twice as old as the one she experienced.
“I’m looking forward to interacting with all the students,” Rosales said. “I know the people from Brookside, and I will get to know the seniors at Washington.”
Though they do not vote on matters before the board, Rosales and Bravo have the opportunity to participate in discussions. They said they may be patient at first, but they will let their voices be heard.
“I will try to come up with solutions which work,” Bravo said. “If I disagree with something, I will say something about it.”
“I will work with everyone to see a way to find a solution which everyone can agree on,” Rosales added.
Along with music, Rosales is a staff sergeant in the school’s JROTC. In addition to music, Bravo plays on the school’s volleyball and soccer teams.
