Cape High senior Gus Musika chosen for state school board

A mother’s suggestion has turned into a yearlong commitment for rising Cape High senior Gus Musika, named the 2023-24 Delaware State Board of Education student representative by Gov. John Carney June 22.

During a June 26 interview, Gus said his mother Faye Schilling put the idea into his head. Schilling had learned about the open position and thought her son would be a good fit. After an application and virtual interview with several board representatives, he received an invitation to participate.

Gus said decisions made by the state board affect all students, and said he believes in equity in education. All students should have equal access to technology and have a safe and secure school, he said.

“I feel like every student has a voice, so they should have a representative,” said Gus, who will attend his first meeting in July.

A National Honor Society member, Gus is a lead anchor for the school YouTube channel, Cape Report. He plays football and lacrosse, and will spend much of the summer attending college football prospect camps across the country as a long snapper.

Gus is working toward obtaining his private pilot’s license and hopes to continue his education in the aviation field while minoring in broadcast journalism. He said if he decides not to become a commercial pilot, he could become an aviation correspondent for a large news company.

Carney said the board needs students like Gus to offer their perspectives while it makes decisions about state education. 

“Gus brings unique experience to this role, and I appreciate his willingness to serve,” Carney said. 

Delaware State Board of Education President Shawn Brittingham said he looks forward to hearing Gus’s perspective about public education.

“The Delaware State Board of Education values student voice,” Brittingham said. 

In 2018, the Delaware General Assembly passed House Bill 455, which added two nonvoting seats to the Delaware State Board of Education: a student seat and a teacher seat, currently held by 2015 Delaware Teacher of the Year Megan Szabo. Gus will be the fifth student to serve on the board. 

The board’s regular monthly meetings are open to the public, typically scheduled for the third Thursday evening of the month. The board rotates its meetings to be held in all three counties.