A student panel will be part of the Palo Alto Unified School District’s superintendent interview process, following a decision made at the May 12 board meeting.

PAUSD hired the search consultant firm McPherson & Jacobson, LLC to find a new superintendent following the end of Don Austin’s contract in early February. The interview process will begin May 30 and will continue over two days according to the PAUSD superintendent search planning calendar.

The original plan was to have three students on the community interview panel, but after 48 students applied for the position, the board agreed to have an additional student panel consisting of 10 students.

The three incoming student board representatives from Paly, Gunn and Palo Alto Middle College will also be on the community panel.

Sophomore Helen Li was elected in early April as the Paly student board representative and will be a part of the interview panel.

“I really love the attention to student voice that has been going on,” Li said. “It’s a really big step in the right direction.”