Student Board Members Appointed to Contra Costa County Board of Education for 2024-2025 School Year
PLEASANT HILL, CA—
The Contra Costa County Board of Education (CCCBOE) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ishaan Savla, a junior at Dougherty Valley High School in San Ramon, and Luke Wilson, a senior at El Cerrito High School, as the student members of the Board for the 2024-25 school year. They were selected from a pool of 35 applicants representing eight school districts and 11 high schools.
Their appointment reflects the Board’s commitment to including student voices in the decision-making process that affects their education and future.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ishaan and Luke to the Board,” Board President Mike Maxwell said. “Their impressive accomplishments and commitment to their communities stood out among a talented group of applicants. We look forward to their contributions and are confident they will provide invaluable insights on behalf of their peers.”
As student members of the CCCBOE, Savla and Wilson will actively participate in meetings, offer insights on issues affecting students, and collaborate with other members. They have a preferential vote, which means they may formally express their preference on a motion before a vote by the board. Preferential votes do not count in the final numerical outcome of a motion.
Their first meeting will be Wednesday, August 14, at 5 p.m.
Savla has been actively involved in local and statewide advocacy, serving as Governmental Affairs and Policy Director for the Bay Area at the California Association for Student Councils, an ambassador for the San Ramon Teen Council, and a class officer and member of the leadership team at Dougherty Valley High School.
“I am excited to begin this journey as a student member of the county’s Board of Education,” Savla said. “I aim to connect with special needs students and forge more sister-school partnerships where student-led clubs and organizations bridge students across the county. I want to ensure that the voices of students are present in the conversation about educational policies and priorities.”
Wilson looks forward to using the position to help students better understand how school districts compare to others in the county and how they can come together as advocates. He is a member of the All Student Congress in the West Contra Costa Unified School District and the mock trial team at El Cerrito High School.
“Being a student member of the Contra Costa County Board of Education is a great opportunity for me to learn and bring students from across the county together to advocate for better outcomes,” Wilson said. "I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to collaborate with the Contra Costa County Board of Education, ensuring that student voices are not only heard but are central to the decision-making process, thereby fostering an educational environment that truly reflects the needs and aspirations of our student body."
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About Contra Costa County Office of Education
One of 58 counties in California, Contra Costa County (CCCOE) has the 11th largest public-school student population in the state (approximately 169,225 students). Officially established in 1932, CCCOE has a long history of providing direct services to some of our county's most vulnerable students, including young people who are incarcerated, homeless, or in foster care, as well as students who have severe physical or emotional challenges.
CCCOE also provides support services to schools and school districts in Contra Costa County; services that can be handled most effectively and economically on a regional basis rather than by each of the county's 286 schools or 18 school districts. These services range from budget approval and fiscal support to technology infrastructure, communication support, and high-level professional development opportunities for educators. CCCOE maintains a website at www.cocoschools.org.
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