SOMEONE YOU SHOULD KNOW
Roberts’ voice heard on Sweet Home Board
by PATRICK J. NAGY

Kelly Roberts

As student ex-officio, Kelly Roberts can’t vote on the Sweet Home Board of Education, but the senior will speak her mind.

“I like to know what’s going on,” said Roberts. “I feel like I have a voice. There’s a lot of red tape when it comes to school issues. You want to know how to do something, and it seems like once you have an idea, you don’t know what happens with it. I figured if I was on the School Board, I would be able to take my problems right to the top. It’s a nice way to be in the know.”

Roberts’ election as All-Class Leadership Council president (oversees all student councils in school) automatically qualified her for the position with the School Board. It’s the third straight year Sweet Home has had a student representative. Roberts thinks it’s a great concept.

“Sometimes I say things to them, and they’ll be so surprised, and I’ll be so surprised that they are,” she said. “There are some things students care so much about that we just assume people know about.”

One proposal Roberts is trying to get passed is expanding after-school library hours. The current after-school hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays until 4 p.m.; Roberts also wants Mondays and Wednesdays until 4 p.m. because the library gets a lot of use by students.

“I brought it up to them at an earlier meeting, and they were like ‘go for it,’ ” said Roberts. “I already had a meeting with Principal (Joleen) Reinholz and will have another one in January. I’ve also talked to Mr. (Craig) Allwes, (assistant superintendent for human resources and planning), and we’re going to put out a survey to try to get other people’s feedback on how much people use the library for resources.”

Roberts meets with the board between three to four hours twice a month. Trying to balance athletics and academics with the responsibility has been difficult. She already missed two board meetings in the fall because of varsity volleyball games. She was a middle blocker on the team’s Section VI Class A championship team.

“I felt so bad, but they were all really supportive and congratulated me,” said Roberts.

Past leadership positions, including being a peer mediator with Natural Helpers, Chorale Concert president and a volunteer with Beechwood Continuing Care and the Amherst Museum, has also prepared Roberts for the board position.

“It definitely helps you have the people skills needed to deal with different kinds of people you come in contact with at the meetings,” said Roberts.

She is also involved with Mock Trial, Drama Club, the school’s musical, and is a member of the National Honor Society.

Roberts plans a double major in political science and English but is undecided on a college.

If you have a suggestion for someone to feature in this column, send it to Patrick J. Nagy, reporter, P.O. Box 150, Buffalo, N.Y. 14231-0150, or call 204-4903.