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2009-11-21

2009-11-18

2009-11-05

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Wednesday, September 16, 2009 12:02 PM

Government groups may move students closer

By VICKIE MOSS, Herald Public Affairs Editor

High school students could get a seat at the big table.

Changes to the Youth in Government program could let youth members sit next to city commissioners or school board members during official public meetings.

That might encourage young people to speak openly with elected representatives about the issues, Lisa Rivers, volunteer coordinator for East Central Kansas Economic Opportunity Corp., said. It also would help elected officials understand how the younger generation would be affected by their decisions, she said.

“They are very intimidated by you all,” Johnson told Ottawa city commissioners during their regular study session Monday. “We’re trying to look at some ways they could develop a professional relationship with each of you.”

Zach George, a junior at Ottawa High School who is entering his second year with Youth in Government, said he accepted a seat with the Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce board last year. That gave him a chance to interact with people who serve important roles in the community, he said.

“It’s a really fun activity,” he said.

George thinks students can offer valuable insight to elected and appointed officials. He said USD 290, for example, especially can benefit from having a student available to talk about the issues under discussion.

The USD 290 board Monday approved letting a student sit next to the board. The student would not be able to vote but could participate in the discussion.

Ottawa city commissioners were supportive of the idea but asked Rivers to submit revised bylaws before they would decide.

Rivers said she also has received approval to allow a student at Ottawa Main Street Association meetings. The Ottawa Recreation Commission was expected to consider the issue tonight, and she also has approached the Ottawa Library board.

“We want it to be a group where they are shaping policy,” she said.

“The students are really excited. They’re already talking about which groups they want to be part of.”

The Youth in Government program also will see other changes, mostly to make the application process a little easier, Rivers said. Many students are intimidated by the process or don’t have time to fulfill requirements for multiple meetings. The number of meetings a youth is required to attend during the application process was reduced from two to one.

The application process also will begin earlier in the year, in the spring rather than the fall, to give participants time over the summer to get to know each other, Rivers said.

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Government groups may move students closer

By VICKIE MOSS, Herald Public Affairs Editor

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article | Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article |
Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.