LeeKira Smith, a senior at Statesboro High School, was selected recently to serve on the 2009-2010 Student Advisory Council. She was picked by a Georgia Department of Education committee from more than 500 high school applicants across the state.
    The council will meet three times with State Superintendent Kathy Cox beginning on Monday and again on Jan. 25 and March 8. Approximately 30 other students will serve on the Council with her. She is the second student from Bulloch County to serve on the council since its inception five years ago. Sacona Sherffield from Portal High served last year.

    Smith's written application for the council required her to give her thoughts on issues facing students, how she would address those issues, and the overall education quality in Georgia. She was also required to detail her involvement in school and community activities.
    Smith will serve as a liaison between the Georgia Department of Education and students in Bulloch and the Southeast Georgia area. Secretary Cox has demonstrated in the past that she values the group's input. She has used past councils as focus groups to gather student input on how decisions made at the state level affect students.
    Council members have an opportunity to share their ideas, as well. Previous members have gathered input from fellow students or held town hall meetings in their communities. They've taken that feedback and shared ideas on everything from school construction and curriculum funding to high school testing requirements.