When Addy Pickles and Cade Weber crossed the stage as members of Lebanon High School’s (LHS) Class of 2026 earlier this month, they left behind more than academic and athletic accomplishments.
They also concluded a year spent representing their classmates in the district’s boardroom.
As student representatives to the Lebanon School Board, Pickles and Weber spent their senior year attending monthly school board meetings, sharing updates from LHS and contributing student perspectives to discussions affecting schools across the district.
The pair’s role offered both students a look into the decision-making process while also helping ensure student concerns were part of the conversation.
“For readers who may not know, Addy and I sat in with the board, often quietly listening and taking notes on the points of the meeting,” Weber said. “Near the end of every meeting, we had a portion to report on the goings on at the high school to the board. We were encouraged by the superintendent and board members to share our thoughts in discussions.”
Throughout the year, Pickles and Weber also supported the district’s Buddy Program, which pairs LHS leadership students with younger students to build connections and bolster attendance. However, some of the most important conversations the pair were part of centered on issues directly affecting students, including the closure of Heath Stadium.
“A bigger issue we discussed during this past year was the shutdown of Heath Stadium,” Pickles said. “It had a major impact on the students at Lebanon High School. Cade and I had many discussions with our peers about how they felt during this time. We brought those insights to the board to help navigate the best situations for our student body.”
However, for Pickles, the experience was about more than attending meetings.
“The most rewarding part of being a voice for my student peers is helping students feel heard,” Pickles said. “Knowing that I can represent others, advocate for positive change, and help create a more supportive environment makes the role meaningful.”
The pair’s unique role left a lasting impression on Weber as well.
“I have always held leadership and public service in high regard,” Weber said. “But now, having served as a student member of the school board, I’ve seen what goes on at the next level of governance for the district and the difficult conversations and decisions that are necessary to serve the community.”
Their efforts have earned praise from numerous district leaders, even from Lebanon School Board Chair Nichole Piland.
“Cade and Addy brought tremendous energy, leadership, and school pride to the School Board this year,” Piland said.
Piland also explained that the pair helped encourage student participation in the T-Mobile Friday Night 5G Lights contest and provided valuable insights into students’ experiences throughout the school year.
Now, both graduates are preparing for their next chapter in higher education.
Pickles graduated as one of LHS’s salutatorians and plans to attend Boise State University, where she will study nursing and serve on the Boise State Spirit Squad.
Weber graduated as one of the school’s valedictorians and will attend the University of Idaho to pursue a degree in civil engineering and will be competing on the school’s club rugby team, and hopes to try out for the university’s track team the following year.
Before leaving the role behind, Weber shared his hope for the students who follow.
“I hope that future student representatives can be even more confident in their position than Addy and I were and continue to voice more of the perspective of the student body for the board to consider,” Weber said.