Over 6,700 Baltimore County middle and high school students voted to elect the next student member of the school board, the district announced Friday. Foresight Ogungbe, a junior at Eastern Technical High School in the school’s Academy of Health Professions program, will serve as the student member of the board beginning July 1, according to a news release. Her term will last through the 2025-26 school year. Ogungbe won over Towson High School student Sophie Vijayan. In the sixth year of elections for the student member of the board, 6,734 middle and high school students voted April 24, the district said. The candidates campaigned via video Q&A sessions, social media, recorded speeches and virtual school visits, according to BCPS.

School security, student mental health and equity in resources across the school district were some of Ogungbe’s priorities mentioned in her speech. “Education should be an equal opportunity, not a lottery,” Ogungbe said in her campaign speech. She said she would attempt to visit every middle and high school in the district to interact with students, as well as have an active social media presence to allow students to engage with her.

Ogungbe has leadership positions at the school to state levels. She is president of the Class of 2026 at her school, vice president of Baltimore County Student Councils and a member of the Maryland Youth Advisory Council, among other offices, the release says.

Outgoing student member of the board Ugonma Chike-Kalu will graduate from Western School of Technology in May, according to the release. The student member of the board is one of 12 school board members. The student cannot vote on district employee discipline or firings, collective bargaining matters or school closures, reopenings and boundaries, according to the board’s handbook. Ogungbe will earn $7,500 as a scholarship, though the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation to increase that to $10,000 starting in 2026.

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