Students to Serve as Ex-Officio Members to the Official Policy Making Body of Yonkers Public Schools District
L-R: Dr. Rosalba DelVecchio, President, Yonkers Board of Education; Lawrence Sykes, Yonkers Board of Education Trustee; Riyana De Guzman, Yonkers Board of Education Student Trustee; Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano; Abdulrahman Sadiq-Onilenla, Yonkers Board of Education Student Trustee; Yonkers Councilmember Tasha Diaz; Sheila Greenwald, Yonkers Board of Education Trustee; Lorraine Lopez, Yonkers Board of Education Trustee; Superintendent of Yonkers Public Schools Aníbal Soler, Jr. Photo by Maurice Mercado/City of Yonkers
Mayor Mike Spano swore in two Yonkers Public Schools students to the Yonkers Board of Education. As non-voting ex-officio trustees of the Yonkers Board of Education, the students join a nine-member Board, which is the official policy making body of the School District.
“I am very proud to appoint some of Yonkers Public Schools’ finest young men and women to the Yonkers Board of Education,” stated Mayor Spano. “These students are the very best and brightest of our student body, exemplifying their commitment to education, fostering communication and leadership among their peers. Congratulations to them – I am excited to see what their future holds.”
Mayor Spano appointed the following Yonkers Public Schools student trustees to the Yonkers Board of Education:
- Riyana De Guzman – De Guzman is a junior at Saunders Trade & Technical High School majoring in Biomedical Technology. She will serve as a trustee through the end of her senior year. De Guzman is the founder of the Saunders Medical Club. She also serves as a Youth Climate Activist for the Climate Resilience for Education Task Force and volunteers her time at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx. She has been on the Honor Roll all three years at Saunders.
- Abdulrahman Sadiq-Onilenla – Sadiq-Onilenla is sophomore at Saunders Trade and Technical High School, studying Electronic Computer Circuitry and will serve as an alternate to the Board. During his time at Saunders, Sadiq-Onilenla has been president of the Youth2Youth, president of the Coding Club, captain of the men’s basketball team, member of the Newspaper Club and is a lead technician for his First Robotics Competition.
As ex-officio members of the Yonkers Board of Education, the student trustees will sit with the Board at public meetings and hearings and participate in other board activities at the Board’s discretion. They will not or attend executive sessions or other non-public meetings.
Board of Education President Dr. Rosalba Corrado Del Vecchio noted, “I always enjoy hearing insights from our student trustees. We make decisions that impact their daily lives. Having their input is invaluable.”
Superintendent of Yonkers Public Schools Aníbal Soler, Jr., commented, “The appointment of student trustees to the Yonkers Board of Education reflects our belief that student voice matters and should help inform the decisions that shape their educational experience. Riyana and Abdulrahman exemplify the leadership, service, and excellence we see across Yonkers Public Schools, and I look forward to the perspectives they will bring as we continue building a stronger future for all students.”
In September 2024, New York State Legislation was passed and signed requiring school districts to have at least one non-voting student representative on its Board of Education.
