Politician in the making? Jay Neilson reflects on his tenure with RR District School Board

Ken Johnston

Rainy River High School Senior Jay Neilson is wrapping up his second year in district politics.
Neilson, who is President of RRHS student council is also the Student Trustee on the Rainy River District Board of Education. He has found the latter to be an eye-opening experience, one that he feels he will draw from for years to come.
Neilson said, “I learned how the board is run and how decisions happen.” He was expecting the board to be a tough bunch of politicians, instead, “Everyone was a lot friendlier than expected.”
His role as student trustee took him on a journey of responsibility from one end of the district to the other. He had to liaison with Fort Frances High School and Atikokan High School student councils and then report back to the board.
“I learned a few things that I didn’t expect like the different activities they do.” He also noted that many of the things that the students do at each school are very similar.
While he encouraged his contacts at the other two schools to bring any concerns or beefs they might have to him for reporting to the board he found that the students did not have any.
Jay has also been involved in the creation of a new government body between the three schools; a Student Senate. Since it is in its infancy anyone who wants to from the three schools can participate in the bi-weekly meetings on the internet. Neilson hopes that next year there will be an elected senate with representatives from each school.
He said Student Senates already exist in Ontario but this has been the first year for one in the Rainy River District. “It is my hope that the Senate will focus on issues that affect students across the board and bring them to the board.”
Neilson said when he came into high school he never expected to be this involved in politics but that he has enjoyed it. Whether he will be involved in them at university is yet to be seen. “I will see what opportunities present themselves.”
In addition to attending the monthly board meetings Jay has also had the opportunity to attend a big conference in Toronto last year called the English Public Board Student Trustee Conference. He said it gave him a lot of ideas for this year. Another conference is coming up this spring in Ottawa. At this time he is not sure he will be able to attend.