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Date: 11/9/2023
AGAWAM — Aiden Kane is getting an education as a senior at Agawam High School. He’s also getting an education in how policy decisions that affect the education of students as the 2023-24 student representative to the School Committee.
“I wanted to serve as student representative not only to represent my fellow students, but also to get an idea about how the gears of politics run in a municipality,” said Kane. He was selected by AHS Principal Jim Blain from a group of students who applied for the position.
The 18-year-old senior said it’s important to have a student representative because the committee’s decisions affect all the district’s more than 3,000 students.
“I can provide insight as a non-voting member as to what students want or need,” he said.
And, unlike previous student representatives, Kane doesn’t just focus on what’s happening at the high school. In his reports at meetings, he plans to provide regular updates from all schools in the district.
“Not to snub past representatives, but I represent every school in the district. It’s important to give each one a little spotlight at meetings,” he said.
“Even though I’m not an elected official, I feel as if all students are my constituents,” said Kane. “I like being a voice for students in the district who otherwise have no idea what’s going on at each meeting. I’m surprised by just how much we need a school committee to run our schools. Without them, the wheels of knowledge in Agawam would not turn.”
Before each meeting, Kane corresponds with all school principals to ask about anything specific he should highlight concerning their schools. At the high school, he’s still trying to figure out the most efficient way to reach all students to inform them about decisions at committee meetings. He’s considering asking about having a segment in Blain’s weekly update to students.
One issue students have told Kane they would like to see addressed by the committee is the dress code.
“Many students, especially female students, have come forward and told me about their concerns. Female students have said they feel the dress code is unfairly targeted toward them.”
Kane said the one thing he would like to complete in his tenure as student representative is to work with the committee to resolve this issue and develop a fair compromise that’s agreeable to both students and school administrators.
Kane said he’s getting an up-close look at how the committee operates and how it votes when deciding issues.
“It’s definitely a new experience in the sense that I had no idea how many times a roll call vote is needed for items on the agenda,” he said in October.
To prepare for his new role, Kane said he had several meetings with Blain and corresponded with several committee members to determine what was expected of him as the student representative. He said his parents are proud he’s serving on the committee.
“They’re happy to see me passionate and involved in the community I’ve been a part of since I was born.”
School Committee meetings are on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month, giving Kane the ability balance his academic studies and extracurricular activities with the time needed to serve on the School Committee.
His extracurricular activities include being a member of Peer Leadership and Peer Mediation, the Agawam Chiefs, the Prom Committee, the jazz band, president of Best Buddies, a thrower on the track team and a delegate to the Western Massachusetts Student Advisory Council.
“As any other adult does with a job and a family, I manage my time,” he said. “The most important thing for me is to prioritize my responsibilities beyond the committee so I don’t let one thing down over the other.”
Next fall, Kane plans to attend Holyoke Community College to work toward an associate’s degree, then transfer to the University of Massachusetts Amherst for a degree in political science.
“My passion is politics. It’s the only thing I can see myself doing,” he said.
Kane said he believes too many people complain about the country and the world but don’t want to be part of the solution, which instead adds to the problem.
“My dream is to be part of the solution and run for elected office in the future,” he said.