As Leanette Mabinton becomes Salem-Keizer School Board’s first student advisor, she hopes adults will be open to learning

Leanette Mabinton, 15, testifies at a February 2019 school board meeting, asking the board to wait to approve a school boundary change until they can consider student input. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)

One hour into a February 2019 school board meeting in Salem, tensions were running high as parents and teachers spoke about a plan to change school attendance boundaries.

Leanette Mabinton, then 15 and sophomore at McKay High School, cracked a nervous grin as she…