John Mannes Sworn in as Student Member of the Board
John Mannes, a rising senior at Northwest High School, was in as the 35th Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB) on Monday, July 9, 2012, at the Montgomery County Circuit Court in Rockville. Mr. Mannes was sworn in by Clerk of the Court Loretta Knight.
“I look forward to working with the Board of Education and the Superintendent on the important issues we will be facing in the coming year,” Mr. Mannes said. “I appreciate the support of MCPS students and I am committed to making their voices heard during my time as SMOB.”
A swearing-in ceremony for Mr. Mannes had been scheduled for Monday, July 2, but was canceled due to emergency conditions created by severe weather in the region.
Mr. Mannes was elected to serve a one-year term on the Board by middle and high school students of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). He received 62.9 percent of the vote in the April 25, 2012 election, in which more than 85 percent of eligible students cast ballots.
Mr. Mannes is active in the Montgomery County Region of the Maryland Association of Student Councils, having served as chief of staff and deputy special elections administrator. He has also served as the legislative chair for the Maryland Youth Advisory Council, has raised money for the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network and has been involved in political campaigns.
The SMOB is a voting member of the Board of Education, and can cast votes on all items, with the exception of boundary changes, the capital and operating budgets, collective bargaining, negative personnel matters and school closings. The SMOB receives a $5,000 college scholarship, student service learning hours and one honors-level social studies credit.
Mr. Mannes succeeds Alan Xie, a 2012 graduate of Richard Montgomery High School, who served as the SMOB for two consecutive years.
For more information on the SMOB, visit the Student Member of the Board website<http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/studentaffairs/smob/index.shtm>.