Arvin Kim elected as Student Member of the Board of Education

Walt Whitman High School junior Arvin Kim won the election for the 45th Student Member of the Montgomery Council Board of Education (SMOB) on Wednesday. Kim received 58.7 percent of the vote, winning over Albert Einstein junior Ibrahima "Baba" Cisse.

All middle and high school students were eligible to vote for the SMOB, and more than 56,000 students cast ballots.

The SMOB has full voting rights except on negative personnel actions (such as firing) and serves to directly represent student voices on the Montgomery County Board of Education.

Kim ran on a platform targeting inequity in MCPS, recovering from the pandemic, and addressing the mental health crisis.

His platform outlined 200 policy goals, some of which include creating a virtual dual-enrollment program so that all MCPS students have universal access to all classes, implementing weekly wellness days, and reforming the county's curriculum to incorporate life skills and career readiness. 

Arvin Kim

Photo: Walt Whitman junior Arvin Kim received 58.7% of the vote to become the 45th SMOB.

Walt Whitman junior Arvin Kim received 58.7% of the vote to become the 45th SMOB. Photo courtesy of MCPS.

In a statement posted to social media, Kim thanked MCPS students for their support. 

"What started as a campaign 4 months ago has become a movement stretching across every part of the county. As I've visited your schools, walked your halls, and heard from you, I've gained irreplaceable experience and invaluable insight into what it means to be a student in MCPS. I am beyond grateful for your support and deeply humbled by the trust you've put in me today. Thank you for sharing my vision and for taking part in the fight for our education. Our work has just begun. I look forward to serving you in the year ahead," he wrote.

Kim will succeed Hana O'Looney, the current SMOB, on July 1, shortly after she graduates from Richard Montgomery High School.